Sutcliff

Sutcliff is an English surname, typically considered a variant of Sutcliffe. The name originates from Old English elements meaning "south" (sūþ) and "cliff" or "slope" (clif), and was originally a topographic name for someone who lived by a southern cliff or hillside. It is historically associated with northern counties of England, where many of the Sutcliffe/Sutcliff variants emerged.

Spelling variations include Sutcliffe, Sutliffe, Sutcliff(e) and others; differences in spelling often reflect regional dialects and historical changes in orthography rather than distinct family origins. Bearers of the name have been recorded in parish registers, censuses and legal documents from the medieval period onward, and the surname remains in use in the United Kingdom and among descendants in other English-speaking countries.

Notable individuals with the Sutcliff spelling include Rosemary Sutcliff (1920–1992), an English writer celebrated for her historical fiction for children and young adults, most famously The Eagle of the Ninth. The surname also appears in local histories, genealogical studies and cultural references where family names of northern English origin are discussed. As with many surnames, Sutcliff serves as both an identifier of family lineage and a marker of geographic and linguistic history.