NameCensus.

UK surname

Mogford

Occupational surname from the Old English words mog meaning "servant" and ford meaning "ford" or "river crossing".

In the 1881 census there were 530 people recorded with the Mogford surname, ranking it #6,481 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 843, ranked #6,627, down from #6,481 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lantwit-juxta-Neath and Tiverton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Devon, Blaenau Gwent and Neath Port Talbot.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mogford is 940 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.1%.

1881 census count

530

Ranked #6,481

Modern count

843

2016, ranked #6,627

Peak year

2000

940 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mogford had 530 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,481 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 843 in 2016, ranked #6,627.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 828 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mogford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mogford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mogford 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 337 #6,953
1861 historical 313 #8,103
1881 historical 530 #6,481
1891 historical 601 #6,375
1901 historical 729 #6,071
1911 historical 828 #5,331
1997 modern 864 #6,158
1998 modern 907 #6,122
1999 modern 926 #6,070
2000 modern 940 #5,980
2001 modern 898 #6,102
2002 modern 919 #6,107
2003 modern 899 #6,094
2004 modern 895 #6,117
2005 modern 868 #6,197
2006 modern 865 #6,232
2007 modern 865 #6,293
2008 modern 865 #6,330
2009 modern 883 #6,363
2010 modern 892 #6,439
2011 modern 887 #6,382
2012 modern 863 #6,446
2013 modern 852 #6,618
2014 modern 851 #6,649
2015 modern 838 #6,678
2016 modern 843 #6,627

Geography

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Where Mogfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lantwit-juxta-Neath, Tiverton, London parishes and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Devon, Blaenau Gwent, Neath Port Talbot and Amber Valley. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Lantwit-juxta-Neath Glamorganshire
3 Tiverton Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Devon 013 North Devon
2 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent
3 Neath Port Talbot 005 Neath Port Talbot
4 Neath Port Talbot 008 Neath Port Talbot
5 Amber Valley 003 Amber Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mogford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mogford

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

Mogford is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mogford 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 Mogford 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 Mogford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mogford

The surname Mogford is believed to have originated in England, likely during the late medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that may have been based on an Old English personal name combined with the word "ford," referring to a shallow river crossing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mogford can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, a census-like record from 1273, where a John de Mokford is mentioned. The spelling variation "Mokford" suggests that the name may have originated from a place name with a similar pronunciation.

In the 14th century, the Mogford surname appears in various historical documents across different counties in England, indicating its spread across the country. For instance, a John Mogford is recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1332, while a William Mogford is mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire in 1381.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Mogford name can be found in several parish records and other official documents. Notable individuals from this period include Richard Mogford, a yeoman from Oxfordshire, who was mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524, and Thomas Mogford, a landowner from Gloucestershire, whose name appears in the Hearth Tax records of 1673.

In the 18th century, the Mogford surname gained further prominence with individuals such as John Mogford (1712-1785), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Bristol, who founded the Mogford Almshouses for poor widows in the city. Another notable figure was William Mogford (1744-1820), a clergyman and academic who served as the Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford.

The 19th century saw the birth of several prominent individuals bearing the Mogford surname, including George Mogford (1787-1854), a British naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars, and John Mogford (1818-1891), an English architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in London.

Throughout its history, the Mogford surname has maintained a strong presence in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire, where many of the earliest records of the name can be found.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mogford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mogford 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. Devon leads with 162 Mogfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.75x.

County Total Index
Devon 162 14.75x
Monmouthshire 89 23.33x
Middlesex 74 1.40x
Glamorgan 45 4.90x
Somerset 41 4.83x
Gloucestershire 36 3.48x
Surrey 14 0.54x
Warwickshire 14 1.05x
Channel Islands 11 7.03x
Berkshire 7 1.77x
Hertfordshire 7 1.92x
Carmarthenshire 6 2.70x
Dorset 6 1.73x
Essex 6 0.58x
Hampshire 5 0.46x
Sussex 4 0.45x
Kent 3 0.17x
Lancashire 3 0.05x
Oxfordshire 3 0.92x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Lanarkshire 1 0.06x
Leicestershire 1 0.17x
Worcestershire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tiverton in Devon leads with 65 Mogfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 343.55x.

Place Total Index
Tiverton 65 343.55x
St Woollos 29 68.11x
Newport 21 115.38x
Risca 16 222.53x
Birmingham 14 3.16x
Camberwell 12 3.56x
Bishops Nympton 11 526.32x
St Martin In Fields 11 34.82x
Briton Ferry 10 91.24x
Dulverton 9 361.45x
Roath 9 21.56x
St Peter Port 9 31.11x
Tottenham 9 10.71x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 9 131.58x
Christchurch 8 67.80x
Crediton 8 76.85x
Islington London 8 1.56x
Kings Nympton 8 701.75x
Neath 8 42.78x
St Gilesin Fields 8 260.59x
St Pancras London 8 1.88x
Knowstone 7 909.09x
Oakford 7 777.78x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 8.27x
Reading St Mary 7 22.06x
Rose Ash 7 760.87x
Stanstead St Margaret 7 3888.89x
Bridgewater 6 26.02x
Bristol St Paul In 6 21.76x
Bristol St Peter 6 162.16x
Clifton 6 11.47x
Llangennech 6 168.54x
Llantwit Lower 6 74.26x
Wells St Andrew 6 789.47x
Exeter St Mary Major 5 75.53x
Llanover 5 38.37x
Paddington London 5 2.58x
Bampton 4 119.05x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 11.59x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 4.10x
Eglwysilan 4 25.09x
Holdenhurst 4 14.10x
Leyton Low 4 18.89x
Melcombe Regis 4 27.87x
Panteg 4 66.56x
St Andrew Holborn 4 22.36x
St Anne Soho London 4 13.27x
St Giles In Fields 4 21.98x
Stoodleigh 4 506.33x
Swansea Town 4 5.31x
Westbury On Trym 4 11.41x
Exeter St Mary Steps 3 120.97x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 11.92x
Llandaff 3 9.81x
Oxford St Giles 3 19.29x
Rogerstone 3 127.66x
St George Hanover 3 4.36x
Washfield 3 416.67x
Bruton 2 59.88x
East Budleigh 2 38.61x
Edmonton 2 4.70x
Exeter St Pancras 2 350.88x
Exeter St Thomas The 2 17.86x
Glastonbury 2 28.86x
Goldcliff 2 487.80x
Kensington London 2 0.68x
Kingskerswell 2 109.89x
Litherland 2 15.28x
Little Warley 2 137.93x
Rackenford 2 303.03x
Radipole 2 83.68x
Sherford 2 273.97x
St Giles On The Heath 2 400.00x
St Marylebone London 2 0.71x
Wells St Cuthbert 2 34.48x
Willesden 2 4.02x
Yate 2 88.11x
Bristol St Michael 1 11.27x
Cardiff St John 1 3.33x
Hastings St Leonards 1 7.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Elizabeth 26
Ann 17
Ellen 14
Sarah 14
Jane 9
Eliza 8
Emily 8
Emma 8
Margaret 7
Charlotte 6
Fanny 6
Louisa 6
Maria 6
Annie 5
Bessie 5
Harriett 5
Alice 4
Caroline 4
Kate 4
Lucy 4
Ada 3
Anna 3
Anne 3
Eva 3
Florence 3
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Frances 2
Francis 2
Hannah 2
Julia 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Albert 1
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Betty 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Eunice 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lavenia 1
Lillie 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Tille 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 47
John 37
Thomas 21
George 16
Samuel 11
Richard 10
James 9
Arthur 7
Charles 7
Robert 7
Edwin 6
Frederick 6
Wm. 6
Albert 5
Edward 5
Ernest 5
Henry 5
Walter 4
Alfred 3
David 3
Emanuel 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Saml. 3
Benj. 2
Fredrick 2
Jno. 2
Aberam 1
Bessie 1
Bill 1
Cecil 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
Isiah 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Mathew 1
Patrick 1
Percival 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Mogford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mogford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 530 people were recorded with the Mogford surname. That placed it at #6,481 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mogford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 843 in 2016. That gives Mogford a modern rank of #6,627.

What does the Mogford surname mean?

Occupational surname from the Old English words mog meaning "servant" and ford meaning "ford" or "river crossing".

What does the Mogford map show?

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