NameCensus.

UK surname

Mobbs

Surname of English origin derived from the Old English word "mobba" meaning "dweller on a mound or hillock."

In the 1881 census there were 1,125 people recorded with the Mobbs surname, ranking it #3,544 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,274, ranked #4,696, down from #3,544 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kempston, London parishes and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Great Yarmouth and Suffolk Coastal.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mobbs is 1,634 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.2%.

1881 census count

1,125

Ranked #3,544

Modern count

1,274

2016, ranked #4,696

Peak year

1911

1,634 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mobbs had 1,125 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,544 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,274 in 2016, ranked #4,696.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,634 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mobbs surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mobbs surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mobbs 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 639 #4,063
1861 historical 648 #4,145
1881 historical 1,125 #3,544
1891 historical 1,351 #3,219
1901 historical 1,509 #3,401
1911 historical 1,634 #2,974
1997 modern 1,413 #4,108
1998 modern 1,500 #4,046
1999 modern 1,478 #4,137
2000 modern 1,446 #4,189
2001 modern 1,427 #4,152
2002 modern 1,470 #4,136
2003 modern 1,406 #4,214
2004 modern 1,371 #4,303
2005 modern 1,299 #4,427
2006 modern 1,275 #4,524
2007 modern 1,283 #4,542
2008 modern 1,280 #4,575
2009 modern 1,305 #4,592
2010 modern 1,306 #4,688
2011 modern 1,296 #4,658
2012 modern 1,260 #4,698
2013 modern 1,289 #4,687
2014 modern 1,293 #4,698
2015 modern 1,277 #4,709
2016 modern 1,274 #4,696

Geography

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Where Mobbs' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kempston, London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Kettering and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Great Yarmouth, Suffolk Coastal, Harborough and Kettering. 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 Kempston Bedfordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
4 Kettering Northamptonshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 008 North Lincolnshire
2 Great Yarmouth 003 Great Yarmouth
3 Suffolk Coastal 001 Suffolk Coastal
4 Harborough 010 Harborough
5 Kettering 005 Kettering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mobbs

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mobbs

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mobbs, 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 Mobbs surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mobbs 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mobbs is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mobbs is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mobbs falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mobbs 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 Mobbs, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mobbs

The surname Mobbs is of English origin, deriving from the medieval personal name "Mobbe", a diminutive form of the name Robert. This name can be traced back to the early 13th century and was predominantly found in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in eastern England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mobbs appears in the Subsidy Rolls for Norfolk in 1327, where a John Mobbe is listed as a taxpayer. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention a Walter Mobbe residing in Suffolk.

Mobbs is believed to have evolved from the Old French name "Rob" or "Robb", which was a shortened version of the Germanic name Robert, meaning "bright fame". Over time, the diminutive form "Mobbe" emerged, and the surname Mobbs gradually took shape.

In the 16th century, the name Mobbs can be found in various records, such as the Muster Roll for Norwich in 1522, which lists a Thomas Mobbs, and the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1568, where a John Mobbs is recorded.

Variations in spelling were common during this period, with the name appearing as Mobbys, Mobbes, and Mobbis in different historical documents.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Mobbs (1588-1645), a Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth during the reign of King Charles I. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, initially supporting the Royalist cause but later siding with the Parliamentarians.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Mobbs (1677-1736), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Giles in Norwich. He published several religious works and was known for his sermons.

In the 18th century, the name Mobbs can be found in various parish registers across Norfolk and Suffolk, indicating its continued presence in these regions.

One interesting reference is the mention of a place called "Mobbys Hill" in the village of Shotesham, Norfolk, in a document dated 1729. This place name likely originated from an early bearer of the Mobbs surname who resided in or owned land in that area.

Other notable individuals with the surname Mobbs include William Mobbs (1801-1875), a British architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Oxfordshire, and Henry Mobbs (1833-1912), a British politician and trade unionist who served as the Mayor of Wolverhampton.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mobbs families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mobbs 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. Northamptonshire leads with 185 Mobbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.92x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 185 17.92x
Norfolk 176 10.43x
Middlesex 173 1.58x
Oxfordshire 92 13.58x
Suffolk 86 6.43x
Surrey 60 1.12x
Leicestershire 47 3.86x
Bedfordshire 44 7.74x
Lincolnshire 41 2.34x
Warwickshire 39 1.41x
Buckinghamshire 35 5.28x
Kent 32 0.85x
Lancashire 21 0.16x
Yorkshire 17 0.16x
Essex 11 0.51x
Gloucestershire 9 0.42x
Huntingdonshire 9 4.13x
Sussex 9 0.49x
Worcestershire 9 0.63x
Derbyshire 7 0.41x
Hertfordshire 6 0.79x
Staffordshire 5 0.14x
Berkshire 4 0.49x
Durham 4 0.12x
Cheshire 1 0.04x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Inverness-shire 1 0.31x
Somerset 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kettering in Northamptonshire leads with 67 Mobbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 160.48x.

Place Total Index
Kettering 67 160.48x
Great Yarmouth 53 37.92x
Leicester St Margaret 37 12.47x
Oulton 26 575.22x
Kempston 25 193.80x
Neithrop 23 100.97x
Alburgh 21 901.29x
Lambeth 19 1.99x
North Aston 19 2235.29x
St Pancras London 19 2.15x
Lowestoft 17 26.92x
Shoreditch London 17 3.57x
East Walton 15 2173.91x
Bromley London 14 5.80x
Clerkenwell London 14 5.40x
Bedford St Cuthbert 13 257.94x
Hinton In Hedges 13 2280.70x
Northampton St Giles 13 33.06x
Lathbury 12 2666.67x
Middle Aston 12 3428.57x
Newport Pagnell 12 86.52x
Alveston 11 303.03x
Castle Acre 11 219.56x
Lakenham 11 45.89x
Mile End Old Town 11 6.35x
St Marylebone London 11 1.88x
Wingfield 11 632.18x
Islington London 10 0.94x
Moulton 10 174.22x
Bow London 9 6.44x
Camberwell 9 1.28x
Egham 9 27.41x
Gainsborough 9 21.75x
Guilsborough 9 329.67x
Heigham 9 9.94x
Northampton Priory St 9 14.53x
Northfield 9 33.10x
Pytchley 9 426.54x
Wellingborough 9 17.34x
Barnoldby Le Beck 8 1000.00x
Chatham 8 7.77x
Frant 8 61.02x
Hackney London 8 1.30x
Market Rasen 8 81.55x
Steeple Aston 8 312.50x
Stow On The Wold 8 167.36x
Watlington 8 343.35x
Banbury 7 51.58x
Broome 7 362.69x
Leicester All Sts 7 29.29x
Maidstone 7 6.28x
Rawcliffe In Goole 7 113.09x
St George Hanover 7 4.89x
St Luke London 7 3.98x
St Nicholas Lincoln 7 41.74x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.26x
Cottingham 6 25.60x
Coventry Holy Trinity 6 7.26x
Finchley 6 14.26x
Holcot 6 425.53x
Leyton 6 16.08x
Long Stow 6 1052.63x
Pentney 6 298.51x
St Andrew Holborn 6 16.13x
Stoke Goldington 6 197.37x
Topcroft 6 447.76x
Withington 6 14.30x
Beccles 5 23.25x
Bloxham 5 75.19x
Great Creaton 5 423.73x
Heckingham 5 403.23x
Kimberley 5 735.29x
Mendham 5 176.06x
Pakefield 5 150.60x
Poplar London 5 2.41x
Salford 5 1.31x
Stevenage 5 42.63x
Stourton 5 704.23x
Wandsworth 5 4.73x
Warwick St Mary 5 20.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 57
Elizabeth 37
Sarah 35
Emma 26
Eliza 17
Jane 17
Ann 15
Alice 14
Ellen 14
Emily 14
Harriet 14
Louisa 13
Fanny 12
Agnes 11
Annie 10
Florence 10
Hannah 10
Laura 10
Caroline 9
Maria 9
Edith 8
Charlotte 7
Elizth. 7
Kate 7
Martha 7
Ada 6
Anne 6
Clara 6
Rose 6
Susan 6
Susannah 6
Amelia 5
Lucy 5
Frances 4
Henrietta 4
Lydia 4
Rebecca 4
Sophia 4
Susanna 4
Anna 3
Barbara 3
Ella 3
Ethel 3
Gertrude 3
Harriett 3
Jessie 3
Lilian 3
May 3
Minnie 3
E.A. 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 58
William 51
George 49
Thomas 30
Charles 28
James 28
Henry 22
Robert 16
Arthur 15
Harry 15
Alfred 14
Frank 13
Joseph 13
Frederick 12
Albert 11
Ernest 11
Herbert 10
Edward 9
Samuel 9
Walter 9
Benjamin 7
Richard 6
Aaron 5
David 4
Wm. 4
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Fred 3
Moses 3
Archibald 2
Beckett 2
Clement 2
Daniel 2
Edgar 2
Edmund 2
Elizabeth 2
F. 2
Hary 2
Roberts 2
Thos. 2
W. 2
Anice 1
Bertie 1
C. 1
Charle 1
Earnest 1
Edwd. 1
Fredric 1
Greville 1
Wm.Bolton 1

FAQ

Mobbs surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mobbs surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,125 people were recorded with the Mobbs surname. That placed it at #3,544 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mobbs surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,274 in 2016. That gives Mobbs a modern rank of #4,696.

What does the Mobbs surname mean?

Surname of English origin derived from the Old English word "mobba" meaning "dweller on a mound or hillock."

What does the Mobbs map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mobbs 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.