The name "Clifton" means 'Cliff farm/settlement'.[6] North and South Clifton were recorded in the Domesday Book as Cliftone/Cliftune/Cli(s)tone.[7] South Clifton was a township in the parish of North Clifton,[8] it became a separate parish in 1866. On the 25th of March 1885 an area of Marnham parish was transferred to the parish.[9]