The Ratcliff's make up a large and distinguished family, principally located in Great Britain and the United States. Unlike many families, we know a great deal about our roots, even back to the time of William the Conqueror. The branch of the family that is considered in detail on this page is that of Richard Ratcliff who came to America in 1682, although there are linkages to other Ratcliff/Radcliff/Ratliff (etc.) web pages and genealogical lines as well.
How We Got
Our Name
and
others like it such as Ratliff, Radcliffe, and so on. This account is not
without dispute, but it is a credible account.
The Family
Coat of Arms While not officially
recorded, this composite includes the common elements of several Ratcliff coats
of arms that are registered in England. The background to the web page you are
now viewing portrays the composite coat of arms. By clicking on this section
you may view the coat of arms more clearly and read a description of what each
element means.
The Ratcliff Family Genealogy
This book is the result of nearly forty
years of research and investigation by Clarence E. Ratcliff prior to his death
in February, 1999. The entire manuscript is available, as well as some
suggested revisions by other genealogists.
The Richard
Ratcliff Bulletin
is
a newsletter begun by my father in 1988, then for a brief time edited by Ed
Ratliff, and for nearly a decade it was edited by Jane Clancy Debenport.
Because of declining interest by readers, as well as other responsibilities
Jane assumed, the newsletter ceased publication in December, 2000. However, all
of the issues are available as a large file that can be downloaded and searched
as needed. There is the possibility that the RRB will be revived in the near
future--but for now, many of the kinds of information that would be in the
bulletin can be obtained by checking the communications
section of this page (see below).
Ratcliff Family Data Base
During the last decade of the twentieth century, Ed Ratliff
compiled a massive database on the family. He began with the information in
Clarence Ratcliff's book, then added more information as it became available.
He eventually turned the project over to Pauline Brandy, who maintained the
database for several years. This is an invaluable resource for genealogical
research.
Ed
Ratliff's Search for British Roots
Ed
toured England in search of some of the locations from which the family came. He
found some distant cousins to help in the search, and brought back a most
interesting account and stunning pictures. Ed also reports
on a society founded for preserving a historic Ratcliff family dwelling and
a disease that may be more common within the family than in the general
population--ulcerative
colitis.
The Ratliff DNA
Project Ed Ratliff describes a new project to help link family members using DNA testing.
The DNA links can help establish which branches of the family tree are most likely to be
connected by testing the Y chromosome. The test is quick and easy--it only involves a
quick swab of the mouth. Since it is a
test of the Y chromosome, it is only available for males, but women can
establish their linkage by having a male biological relative who has the
Ratcliff/Ratliff (etc.) last name take
the test.
Additional Resources Available
A number of Ratcliff
cousins have created their own web pages that give additional information on
their lines of descent. There are also pictures and other resources available
in this section.
Confidentiality Issues
While the information on this web page is
readily available from other sources, there may be personal details that you
would like omitted. This section tells you how this can be this accomplished.
Need Help Finding Your Ancestors?
This section may help you
find your branch of the family tree. Please do not contact me (Don
Ratcliff) for this help, as I am not a genealogist--this page is to honor my
father and encourage further work on the family tree that he worked on for so
many years.
Communications
This is where you can post your information for others to view about your family, with the
possibility that your family line can be connected to the Ratcliff family.
Another alternative is that you can read others' communications about possible
or actual connections to the Ratcliff family tree. Please don't ask me to add
your family line until you thoroughly check my father's book and all of the
issues of the bulletin--we don't want to add something that is already available
on this page! Check this section regularly!
This web page was developed by Donald Ratcliff, Ph.D., the son of Clarence E. Ratcliff. Please note that I am not a genealogist, and thus I am not able to advise you or help you find your branch of the family tree.
This page is in loving memory of my father's life and work.
Clarence Earl Ratcliff
(1915-1999)
"Precious in the
sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
O Lord, truly I am Your servant . . . You have loosed my bonds."
(Psalm 116: 15-16)
For a picture of my father when he was eight years old, along with his family and house in the city of Orange, California click here.
Updated January 30, 2008
Experiencing
God and Spiritual Growth with Your Child
[complete book, available
without charge by clicking on the title]
soli deo gloria