Clifford — Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: de Clifford (Norman)
Meaning: 'from the ford near a cliff or slope', an Anglo-Norman toponymic
Traditional stronghold: Kerry
Pronunciation: KLIF-erd
History of the Clifford name
Clifford is an Anglo-Norman surname taken from a place name in England meaning a ford near a cliff, and it was brought to Ireland with Norman settlement, becoming especially associated with County Kerry, where it took strong root among the local population over subsequent centuries. Unlike some Norman names that gaelicised heavily (adding Mac or Fitz forms, or being translated), Clifford largely retained its English form while its bearers otherwise fully integrated into Gaelic Irish society and Kerry life. The surname is now heavily concentrated in Kerry and neighbouring parts of Cork and Limerick, and is regarded as a distinctly Kerry name despite its foreign linguistic origin, an example of assimilation without name change.
Variants: Clyfford
Famous bearers of the name
- Micheal O Cleirigh — not related; genuine bearer: Sigerson Clifford, Kerry poet and playwright
- Julia Clifford — renowned Kerry traditional fiddle player
- Denis Clifford — Kerry footballer
- Kim Clifford — Irish sportsperson
Related names from the same part of Ireland: O'Sullivan · O'Connor · McCarthy · O'Connell · Fitzgerald · O'Shea · Griffin · Kelleher