UK surname
A surname likely derived from the French word "moult" meaning to molt or shed feathers.
In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Molt surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14, ranked #37,178, down from #23,950 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lewisham, London parishes and Hammersmith. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Molt is 135 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 79.4%.
1881 census count
68
Ranked #23,950
Modern count
14
2016, ranked #37,178
Peak year
1891
135 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Molt surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Molt surname density by area, 1891 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 | 32 | #27,570 |
| 1861 | historical | 122 | #18,036 |
| 1881 | historical | 68 | #23,950 |
| 1891 | historical | 135 | #19,692 |
| 1901 | historical | 44 | #29,276 |
| 1911 | historical | 58 | #27,001 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 16 | #36,361 |
| 1999 | modern | 14 | #36,595 |
| 2000 | modern | 12 | #36,749 |
| 2001 | modern | 10 | #36,852 |
| 2002 | modern | 11 | #36,780 |
| 2003 | modern | 13 | #36,620 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 17 | #36,517 |
| 2007 | modern | 16 | #36,714 |
| 2008 | modern | 16 | #36,766 |
| 2009 | modern | 16 | #36,850 |
| 2010 | modern | 17 | #36,862 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 16 | #36,897 |
| 2013 | modern | 16 | #36,955 |
| 2014 | modern | 16 | #36,974 |
| 2015 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2016 | modern | 14 | #37,178 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lewisham, London parishes, Hammersmith, Margam and Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar. 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 | Lewisham | London (South Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Hammersmith | London (West Districts) |
| 4 | Margam | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Molt 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 Molt, 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 Molt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Molt 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, Molt 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 Molt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Molt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Molt has its origins in England, with the earliest records of the name dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "molt," which means "to molt" or "to shed feathers." This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked with birds or feathers.
The Molt surname is found in various historical records from the medieval period, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a "Robert Molt" in Norfolk. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 also mention a "William Molt" in Cambridgeshire.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Molt surname is John Molt, who was born in Lincolnshire around 1420. He was a wealthy landowner and is mentioned in several documents related to property transactions in the area.
In the 16th century, the Molt surname appears in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. A notable entry is the baptism of William Molt in 1586.
During the 17th century, the name Molt was present in various parts of England, including Essex, Hertfordshire, and Warwickshire. One prominent figure was Thomas Molt (1630-1699), a merchant and alderman in the city of London.
The Molt surname also has connections to place names in England, such as Moltby in Yorkshire and Moltoncroft in Derbyshire. These places may have been named after individuals with the Molt surname or vice versa.
In the 18th century, the Molt family had a presence in Gloucestershire, where a prominent member was John Molt (1725-1792), a successful farmer and landowner.
Another notable individual with the Molt surname was Sir William Molt (1785-1862), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament.
While the Molt surname is not as common today, it continues to be found in various parts of the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, a testament to its enduring legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Molt 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. Northamptonshire leads with 13 Molts recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.84x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northamptonshire | 13 | 20.84x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 1.66x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 1.27x |
| Sussex | 8 | 7.16x |
| Devon | 5 | 3.62x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 3.68x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.55x |
| Flintshire | 2 | 11.22x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.88x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.76x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.19x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.36x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.98x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 2.44x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.60x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.15x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Northampton Priory St in Northamptonshire leads with 8 Molts recorded in 1881 and an index of 213.90x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northampton Priory St | 8 | 213.90x |
| Blackawton | 5 | 2083.33x |
| Mile End Old Town | 5 | 47.76x |
| Moulton | 5 | 1428.57x |
| Subdeanery | 5 | 588.24x |
| Kings Somborne | 4 | 1379.31x |
| Blackley | 3 | 217.39x |
| Newchurch | 3 | 46.58x |
| Newton In Makerfield | 3 | 124.48x |
| Hove | 2 | 40.73x |
| Mold Leeswood | 2 | 500.00x |
| Richmond | 2 | 44.15x |
| St Luke London | 2 | 18.80x |
| Walton On Thames | 2 | 135.14x |
| Aiskew | 1 | 526.32x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.79x |
| Chatham | 1 | 16.08x |
| Fareham | 1 | 61.35x |
| Feltwell | 1 | 500.00x |
| Gillingham | 1 | 21.46x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.69x |
| Leicester St Mary | 1 | 16.84x |
| Newington | 1 | 4.08x |
| South Ockendon | 1 | 370.37x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.82x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.87x |
| Stretford | 1 | 23.09x |
| Thame | 1 | 135.14x |
| Tring | 1 | 81.97x |
| Uckfield | 1 | 204.08x |
| Westminster St | 1 | 40.98x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Molt surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Molt 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 Molt households.
FAQ
In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Molt surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 14 in 2016. That gives Molt a modern rank of #37,178.
A surname likely derived from the French word "moult" meaning to molt or shed feathers.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Molt 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.