UK surname
A Scottish and Irish surname meaning "little hill" or "rounded hillock."
In the 1881 census there were 175 people recorded with the Moffet surname, ranking it #13,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 91, ranked #32,109, down from #13,982 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stanwix, Crosby-on-Eden, Gateshead and Workington (Workington), Clossocks. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moffet is 259 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 48.0%.
1881 census count
175
Ranked #13,982
Modern count
91
2016, ranked #32,109
Peak year
1861
259 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Moffet surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Moffet surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 143 | #13,343 |
| 1861 | historical | 259 | #9,561 |
| 1881 | historical | 175 | #13,982 |
| 1891 | historical | 140 | #19,193 |
| 1901 | historical | 159 | #17,442 |
| 1911 | historical | 144 | #18,325 |
| 1997 | modern | 65 | #31,141 |
| 1998 | modern | 72 | #30,775 |
| 1999 | modern | 77 | #30,427 |
| 2000 | modern | 78 | #30,361 |
| 2001 | modern | 76 | #30,366 |
| 2002 | modern | 78 | #30,601 |
| 2003 | modern | 74 | #31,091 |
| 2004 | modern | 79 | #30,799 |
| 2005 | modern | 78 | #31,058 |
| 2006 | modern | 74 | #31,850 |
| 2007 | modern | 79 | #31,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 84 | #31,370 |
| 2009 | modern | 92 | #30,820 |
| 2010 | modern | 98 | #30,540 |
| 2011 | modern | 94 | #31,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 95 | #31,107 |
| 2013 | modern | 96 | #31,381 |
| 2014 | modern | 98 | #31,370 |
| 2015 | modern | 95 | #31,749 |
| 2016 | modern | 91 | #32,109 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stanwix, Crosby-on-Eden, Gateshead, Workington (Workington), Clossocks, Monkwearmouth and Dalton-in-Furness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanwix, Crosby-on-Eden | Cumberland |
| 2 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Workington (Workington), Clossocks | Cumberland |
| 4 | Monkwearmouth | Durham |
| 5 | Dalton-in-Furness | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Moffet surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Moffet, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Moffet surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Moffet household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Moffet is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Moffet is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Moffet, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Moffet is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to be a variant spelling of the Old French occupational surname "mofette", which referred to a baker or pastry chef. This surname would have been given to someone who worked in this profession.
The earliest known record of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, where it is listed as "Amisius Moffet". This provides evidence that the name was already in use by the 13th century in England.
Another early reference to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from 1301, which mentions a "Johannes Moffet". This suggests the name had spread to different regions of England by the early 14th century.
The variant spelling "Moffett" is also found in historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, which lists a "Willmus Moffett". This spelling is thought to have originated from the Northern English pronunciation of the name.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir Thomas Moffet (c. 1553-1604), an English naturalist and physician who served as a doctor to several noblemen and wrote several influential works on horticulture and natural history.
Another notable individual with this surname was John Moffat (1789-1862), a Scottish missionary who played a significant role in the establishment of the London Missionary Society and worked extensively in South Africa.
Robert Moffat (1795-1883), the son of John Moffat, was also a Scottish missionary who worked in South Africa and became known for his translation of the Bible into the Setswana language.
In the United States, one of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Moffat (1701-1786), a Scottish-born merchant who settled in Massachusetts and became a prominent figure in the American Revolutionary War.
Lastly, David Moffat (1839-1911) was an American financier and railroad builder who played a key role in the development of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad in the late 19th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moffet surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cumberland leads with 42 Moffets recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.74x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 42 | 28.74x |
| Durham | 37 | 7.33x |
| Northumberland | 24 | 9.50x |
| Yorkshire | 12 | 0.71x |
| Lancashire | 9 | 0.45x |
| East Lothian | 7 | 31.14x |
| Angus | 5 | 3.18x |
| Surrey | 5 | 0.60x |
| Bedfordshire | 4 | 4.55x |
| Devon | 4 | 1.13x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 1.15x |
| Westmorland | 4 | 10.72x |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 1.13x |
| Dumfriesshire | 3 | 8.00x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.18x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 0.88x |
| Kincardineshire | 1 | 4.84x |
| Montgomeryshire | 1 | 2.57x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 1.31x |
| Selkirkshire | 1 | 6.51x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.17x |
| West Lothian | 1 | 3.91x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Workington in Cumberland leads with 16 Moffets recorded in 1881 and an index of 191.16x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Moffet surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 15 |
| Isabella | 8 |
| Margaret | 7 |
| Ellen | 6 |
| Annie | 5 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Catherine | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| ...aret | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Barbra | 1 |
| Betty | 1 |
| Bridget | 1 |
| Elen | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| J.E. | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margart | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Nellie | 1 |
| Rosine | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Moffet surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Moffet households.
FAQ
In 1881, 175 people were recorded with the Moffet surname. That placed it at #13,982 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 91 in 2016. That gives Moffet a modern rank of #32,109.
A Scottish and Irish surname meaning "little hill" or "rounded hillock."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Moffet bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.