UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from a pet form of the name Mulvina or Malvina.
In the 1881 census there were 162 people recorded with the Moffit surname, ranking it #14,746 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 29, ranked #36,059, down from #14,746 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Carlisle St Cuthbert, Gateshead and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moffit is 226 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 82.1%.
1881 census count
162
Ranked #14,746
Modern count
29
2016, ranked #36,059
Peak year
1861
226 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Moffit surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Moffit 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 | 219 | #9,712 |
| 1861 | historical | 226 | #10,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 162 | #14,746 |
| 1891 | historical | 115 | #21,878 |
| 1901 | historical | 145 | #18,426 |
| 1911 | historical | 77 | #25,106 |
| 1997 | modern | 32 | #34,472 |
| 1998 | modern | 35 | #34,344 |
| 1999 | modern | 29 | #35,031 |
| 2000 | modern | 34 | #34,517 |
| 2001 | modern | 34 | #34,356 |
| 2002 | modern | 34 | #34,634 |
| 2003 | modern | 28 | #35,200 |
| 2004 | modern | 26 | #35,519 |
| 2005 | modern | 29 | #35,431 |
| 2006 | modern | 28 | #35,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 30 | #35,661 |
| 2008 | modern | 31 | #35,670 |
| 2009 | modern | 32 | #35,730 |
| 2010 | modern | 31 | #35,906 |
| 2011 | modern | 29 | #36,004 |
| 2012 | modern | 32 | #35,820 |
| 2013 | modern | 30 | #35,990 |
| 2014 | modern | 31 | #35,953 |
| 2015 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2016 | modern | 29 | #36,059 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Carlisle St Cuthbert, Gateshead, Manchester, Liverpool and Keighley. 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 | Carlisle St Cuthbert | Cumberland |
| 2 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Keighley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Moffit 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 Moffit, 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 Moffit surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Moffit 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, Moffit 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 Moffit is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Moffit, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Moffit is of Scottish origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Muireach," which means "mariner" or "seafarer." The name likely originated in the coastal regions of Scotland, where many families made their living from fishing or maritime activities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Moffit can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of instruments of homage to Edward I of England. In these rolls, a certain "Johannes Moffat" is mentioned, indicating the name's presence in Scotland during the late 13th century.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Moffit surname appeared in various historical records and documents across Scotland. One notable individual was John Moffat (1607-1683), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the principal of the University of Glasgow from 1661 to 1683.
The Moffit name was also associated with several notable locations in Scotland. For instance, the village of Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway was once known as "Moffat Water," likely named after a person or family bearing the Moffit surname.
In the 18th century, the Moffit surname gained prominence with the rise of Thomas Moffat (1732-1809), a Scottish physician and philanthropist. He made significant contributions to the medical field and established several charitable institutions in his lifetime.
Another notable figure was John Moffat (1788-1868), a Scottish missionary who spent over 50 years serving in South Africa. He played a crucial role in establishing mission stations and translating the Bible into various African languages.
As the centuries progressed, the Moffit surname underwent various spelling variations, including Moffat, Moffatt, Moffet, and Moffett, reflecting regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping during those times.
Throughout history, the Moffit surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including clergy, academics, medical professionals, and philanthropists. While the name may have originated in Scotland, it has since spread across the globe, reflecting the migration patterns of Scottish families over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moffit 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. Durham leads with 51 Moffits recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.78x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 51 | 10.78x |
| Lancashire | 31 | 1.64x |
| Northumberland | 27 | 11.41x |
| Yorkshire | 23 | 1.46x |
| Cumberland | 9 | 6.58x |
| Kent | 6 | 1.11x |
| Lanarkshire | 4 | 0.78x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.39x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.57x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 0.94x |
| Angus | 1 | 0.68x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.36x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.06x |
| Roxburghshire | 1 | 3.47x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.19x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Keighley in Yorkshire leads with 14 Moffits recorded in 1881 and an index of 83.38x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Keighley | 14 | 83.38x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 12 | 58.57x |
| West Derby | 11 | 19.93x |
| Stranton | 10 | 62.81x |
| Moss Side | 9 | 90.63x |
| Kirkwhelpington | 8 | 6666.67x |
| Leeds | 8 | 8.99x |
| Westoe | 7 | 26.11x |
| Elswick | 6 | 31.78x |
| Eltham | 6 | 188.68x |
| Hartlepool | 6 | 89.29x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 6 | 42.46x |
| Wetheral | 6 | 331.49x |
| Hetton Le Hole | 5 | 83.47x |
| Liverpool | 5 | 4.36x |
| Adderstone | 4 | 2666.67x |
| Govan | 4 | 3.15x |
| Escomb | 3 | 138.25x |
| Blennerhasset Kirkland | 2 | 740.74x |
| Harton | 2 | 106.95x |
| Richmond | 2 | 18.42x |
| Throston | 2 | 219.78x |
| Tonge | 2 | 50.51x |
| Witton Cum Twambrooks | 2 | 64.10x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 1 | 2.46x |
| Bowness Drumburg | 1 | 454.55x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 1 | 6.56x |
| Castleton | 1 | 5.31x |
| Dundee | 1 | 1.82x |
| Hart | 1 | 86.96x |
| Heworth | 1 | 10.73x |
| Inveresk | 1 | 17.33x |
| Kelso | 1 | 34.84x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 3.15x |
| Manchester | 1 | 1.18x |
| Mitcham | 1 | 20.41x |
| Monkwearmouth Shore | 1 | 10.83x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 1 | 8.16x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St John | 1 | 32.15x |
| North Leith | 1 | 10.14x |
| Scarborough | 1 | 6.98x |
| Stretford | 1 | 9.63x |
| Tamworth | 1 | 34.84x |
| Westgate | 1 | 6.83x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 6.12x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Moffit surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 16 |
| Jane | 7 |
| Bridget | 4 |
| Elizabeth | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Catherine | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Eleanor | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Sarah | 2 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Barbra | 1 |
| Catharine | 1 |
| Christopherann | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Henrietta | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Janet | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Letitia | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Margrett | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Rathraw | 1 |
| Rosanna | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Roshannah | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Moffit 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 Moffit households.
FAQ
In 1881, 162 people were recorded with the Moffit surname. That placed it at #14,746 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 29 in 2016. That gives Moffit a modern rank of #36,059.
A Scottish surname derived from a pet form of the name Mulvina or Malvina.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Moffit 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.