NameCensus.

UK surname

Amoss

An English topographic surname derived from "moss" referring to someone living on or near a peat bog.

In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Amoss surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 89, ranked #32,297, down from #25,575 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ramsdon Crays, London parishes and Litcham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tendring, Forest Heath and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Amoss is 107 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.1%.

1881 census count

57

Ranked #25,575

Modern count

89

2016, ranked #32,297

Peak year

2000

107 bearers

Map years

3

1901 to 2006

Key insights

  • Amoss had 57 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,575 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016, ranked #32,297.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 100 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Amoss surname distribution map

The map shows where the Amoss surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Amoss surname density by area, 2006 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Amoss over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 69 #21,148
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 57 #25,575
1891 historical 81 #26,632
1901 historical 100 #22,863
1911 historical 76 #25,221
1997 modern 95 #27,638
1998 modern 104 #26,981
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 107 #26,700
2001 modern 100 #27,402
2002 modern 99 #28,082
2003 modern 101 #27,561
2004 modern 106 #27,045
2005 modern 107 #26,875
2006 modern 106 #27,332
2007 modern 106 #27,722
2008 modern 103 #28,519
2009 modern 102 #29,286
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 97 #30,552
2012 modern 88 #32,064
2013 modern 90 #32,146
2014 modern 91 #32,219
2015 modern 86 #32,604
2016 modern 89 #32,297

Geography

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Where Amoss' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ramsdon Crays, London parishes, Litcham, Alfreton and Ashby-de-la-Zouch. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tendring, Forest Heath, Babergh, Colchester and Allerdale. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ramsdon Crays Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Litcham Norfolk
4 Alfreton Derbyshire
5 Ashby-de-la-Zouch Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tendring 003 Tendring
2 Forest Heath 004 Forest Heath
3 Babergh 010 Babergh
4 Colchester 007 Colchester
5 Allerdale 003 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Amoss

These lists show first names that appear often with the Amoss surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Amoss

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Amoss, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Amoss surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Amoss household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Amoss is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Amoss is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Amoss falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Amoss is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Amoss, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Amoss

The surname AMOSS has its origins in France, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "amusse," which means "hidden" or "concealed." This could potentially indicate that the name was initially used to describe someone who lived in a secluded or obscure location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Amos." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, served as a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings across England. The inclusion of the name in this historical record suggests that individuals bearing the surname AMOSS were present in England during the Norman conquest.

In the 13th century, a variant spelling of the name, "Amosse," appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a set of records documenting landowners and their properties. This particular spelling could have been influenced by the nearby village of Ampthill, which was originally known as "Amodeshamsted" or "Amundeshydecroft."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname AMOSS. One such figure was John Amoss (1542-1609), an English Puritan minister known for his efforts in promoting religious reforms during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another was Sir William Amoss (1602-1676), a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament who played a significant role in the English Civil War.

In the literary world, the name AMOSS has also left its mark. Mary Amoss (1865-1949), an American writer and poet, gained recognition for her works exploring themes of nature and spirituality. Her collection of poems, "Songs of the Sierras," published in 1892, received critical acclaim.

Moving into the 20th century, one cannot overlook the contributions of Robert Amoss (1922-2008), a renowned American architect whose designs significantly influenced the architectural landscape of New York City. His most notable works include the Pan Am Building (now known as the MetLife Building) and the Madison Square Garden sports arena.

While the surname AMOSS has undergone various spellings and evolved over time, its French origins and historical significance have been well-documented. From its appearance in ancient records to the achievements of individuals who have carried this name, the AMOSS legacy continues to endure.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Amoss families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Amoss surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 8 Amoss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.44x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 8 1.44x
Norfolk 7 8.19x
Suffolk 7 10.34x
Yorkshire 7 1.27x
Cheshire 6 4.89x
Essex 5 4.56x
Herefordshire 4 17.54x
Surrey 4 1.48x
Hampshire 2 1.76x
Lancashire 2 0.30x
Staffordshire 2 1.07x
Midlothian 1 1.34x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.33x
Sussex 1 1.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kings Lynn St Margaret in Norfolk leads with 7 Amoss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 272.37x.

Place Total Index
Kings Lynn St Margaret 7 272.37x
Altrincham 6 280.37x
Cressing 5 5000.00x
Leeds 5 16.07x
Bethnal Green London 4 16.56x
Llangarren 4 2000.00x
Poplar London 4 38.13x
Ipswich St Clement 2 116.28x
Kingsclere 2 384.62x
Little Bealings 2 5000.00x
Playford 2 4000.00x
Salford 2 10.31x
Smallthorne 2 285.71x
Southwark St Saviour 2 69.93x
Bradford 1 7.50x
Hove 1 24.33x
Ipswich St Nicholas 1 270.27x
Lambeth 1 2.06x
Liberton 1 86.96x
Newington 1 4.87x
Nottingham St Mary 1 5.16x
Sheffield 1 5.70x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Amoss surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Emily 5
Eliza 3
Sarah 3
Maria 2
Mary 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Emma 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Lilly 1
Lydia 1
Martha 1
Matha 1
Ruth 1
Sarahann 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Amoss surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Amoss households.

FAQ

Amoss surname: questions and answers

How common was the Amoss surname in 1881?

In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Amoss surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Amoss surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016. That gives Amoss a modern rank of #32,297.

What does the Amoss surname mean?

An English topographic surname derived from "moss" referring to someone living on or near a peat bog.

What does the Amoss map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Amoss bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.