NameCensus.

UK surname

Mochan

An Americanized respelling of the Czech surname Mochan meaning "resident of a swampy place".

In the 1881 census there were 105 people recorded with the Mochan surname, ranking it #19,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 432, ranked #11,135, up from #19,183 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkintilloch, Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmarthenshire, Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mochan is 446 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 311.4%.

1881 census count

105

Ranked #19,183

Modern count

432

2016, ranked #11,135

Peak year

2010

446 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mochan had 105 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,183 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 432 in 2016, ranked #11,135.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 148 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mochan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mochan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mochan 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 32 #27,570
1861 historical 51 #27,498
1881 historical 105 #19,183
1891 historical 90 #25,399
1901 historical 148 #18,212
1911 historical 33 #29,703
1997 modern 391 #11,196
1998 modern 410 #11,143
1999 modern 416 #11,110
2000 modern 398 #11,443
2001 modern 383 #11,580
2002 modern 414 #11,151
2003 modern 405 #11,168
2004 modern 418 #10,923
2005 modern 409 #10,999
2006 modern 424 #10,748
2007 modern 425 #10,837
2008 modern 416 #11,121
2009 modern 427 #11,129
2010 modern 446 #10,988
2011 modern 422 #11,359
2012 modern 417 #11,346
2013 modern 421 #11,462
2014 modern 432 #11,287
2015 modern 437 #11,077
2016 modern 432 #11,135

Geography

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Where Mochans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkintilloch, Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Edinburgh, Llangafelach and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carmarthenshire, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil, IZ05 and Swansea. 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 Kirkintilloch Dunbarton
2 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Llangafelach Glamorganshire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmarthenshire 027 Carmarthenshire
2 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent
3 Merthyr Tydfil 002 Merthyr Tydfil
4 IZ05 West Dunbartonshire
5 Swansea 014 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mochan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mochan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mochan, 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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Mochan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mochan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mochan is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Mochan is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mochan falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mochan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mochan

The surname Mochan originated in Scotland, with the earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "muachan," which means "a little height or hillock." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived near a small hill or elevated land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mochan can be found in the Parish Records of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, where a John Mochan was mentioned in 1612. In the same region, a Thomas Mochan was recorded in the Commissariot Record of Glasgow in 1668.

The name Mochan also appears in the Parish Records of Lanarkshire, where a James Mochan was listed in 1675. Additionally, in the Regality of Falkirk, a William Mochan was recorded in 1695.

In the late 17th century, the name Mochan seems to have spread to other parts of Scotland. For instance, a John Mochan was mentioned in the Parish Records of Dunfermline, Fife, in 1684.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Mochan name was Robert Mochan, a Scottish merchant who lived in the 16th century. He was born around 1540 and made a fortune trading with the Netherlands and other European countries.

Another notable individual with the surname Mochan was William Mochan, a Scottish minister who lived in the 17th century. He was born in 1628 and served as the minister of the parish of Kilwinning, Ayrshire, from 1660 until his death in 1701.

In the 18th century, a notable figure with the Mochan name was James Mochan, a Scottish lawyer and writer. He was born in 1732 and published several legal treatises, including "A Treatise on the Law of Bankruptcy" in 1789.

In the 19th century, a prominent bearer of the Mochan surname was John Mochan, a Scottish author and journalist. He was born in 1821 and wrote several books on Scottish history and culture, including "The Land of the Scots" in 1860.

Another 19th-century figure with the Mochan name was David Mochan, a Scottish architect born in 1845. He designed several notable buildings in Glasgow, including the Grosvenor Building and the Athenaeum Theatre.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mochan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mochan 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. Lanarkshire leads with 37 Mochans recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.17x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 37 11.17x
Dunbartonshire 15 54.51x
Stirlingshire 13 34.41x
Glamorgan 12 6.73x
Midlothian 10 7.29x
Ayrshire 8 10.44x
Yorkshire 3 0.30x
Angus 2 2.11x
Lancashire 2 0.16x
Cheshire 1 0.44x
Essex 1 0.49x
Renfrewshire 1 1.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 26 Mochans recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.20x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 26 44.20x
Clase 12 181.00x
Edinburgh Canongate 10 286.53x
Kirkintilloch 9 240.64x
Campsie 8 386.47x
Barony 6 7.16x
Falkirk 5 56.56x
Sorn 5 331.13x
Dumbarton 4 104.44x
Old Monkland 4 30.42x
Leeds 3 5.23x
Cardross 2 60.61x
Dundee 2 5.65x
Heap 2 31.01x
Kilmarnock 2 21.93x
Abbey 1 8.26x
Braintree 1 54.95x
Govan 1 1.22x
Stair 1 303.03x
Stockport 1 8.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Ann 1
Annie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Michael 2
Patsey 2
James 1
Jim 1
Owen 1
Patrick 1
Thomas 1
Tom 1

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 Mochan households.

FAQ

Mochan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mochan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 105 people were recorded with the Mochan surname. That placed it at #19,183 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mochan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 432 in 2016. That gives Mochan a modern rank of #11,135.

What does the Mochan surname mean?

An Americanized respelling of the Czech surname Mochan meaning "resident of a swampy place".

What does the Mochan map show?

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