NameCensus.

UK surname

Moodley

An occupational surname of Indian origin referring to a merchant or trader.

In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Moodley surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 281, ranked #15,449, up from #32,581 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Wakefield and Milton Keynes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moodley is 288 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3412.5%.

1881 census count

8

Ranked #32,581

Modern count

281

2016, ranked #15,449

Peak year

2013

288 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Moodley had 8 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 281 in 2016, ranked #15,449.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 36 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Moodley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moodley surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Moodley 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 36 #29,463
1881 historical 8 #32,581
1891 historical 11 #33,268
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 84 #29,106
1998 modern 100 #27,619
1999 modern 100 #27,757
2000 modern 112 #25,978
2001 modern 106 #26,468
2002 modern 144 #22,501
2003 modern 171 #19,953
2004 modern 194 #18,566
2005 modern 187 #18,924
2006 modern 210 #17,718
2007 modern 223 #17,248
2008 modern 243 #16,397
2009 modern 251 #16,368
2010 modern 280 #15,485
2011 modern 255 #16,428
2012 modern 284 #15,090
2013 modern 288 #15,192
2014 modern 288 #15,285
2015 modern 278 #15,586
2016 modern 281 #15,449

Geography

Back to top

Where Moodleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, Wakefield, Milton Keynes, Stockbridge and West Berkshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 062 Leeds
2 Wakefield 014 Wakefield
3 Milton Keynes 027 Milton Keynes
4 Stockbridge City of Edinburgh
5 West Berkshire 022 West Berkshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Moodley

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Moodley

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Moodley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Moodley 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Moodley 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

Moodley is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Moodley falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Moodley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Moodley

The surname Moodley has its origins in South Africa and traces back to the earliest Indian immigrants who arrived in the region during the British colonial era. It is a Tamil name derived from the word "Mudaliyar," which referred to a prominent village headman or landowner in parts of southern India.

During the 19th century, many Indian laborers, primarily from Tamil Nadu and other parts of southern India, were brought to work on the sugar plantations of Natal, South Africa. The Moodley name was carried by these early immigrants and became firmly established in the Indian diaspora communities of South Africa.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Moodley name can be found in the archives of the Natal Indian Immigrant registers, which documented the arrival of Indian indentured laborers from the 1860s onwards. Surnames were often anglicized or adapted during this period, leading to variations in spelling, including Moodliar and Moodlyer.

Over the years, several notable individuals have borne the Moodley surname. One such figure was Srinivasa Moodley (1886-1959), a prominent South African activist and politician who campaigned for the rights of the Indian community during the apartheid era. Another notable figure was Fatima Meer (née Moodley, 1928-2010), a renowned academic, writer, and anti-apartheid activist who played a pivotal role in the struggle for equality and human rights in South Africa.

In the field of sports, Keshav Moodley (1915-1994) was a renowned South African cricketer who represented Natal and played for the South African non-white team during the apartheid era. More recently, Javant Moodley (born 1983) is a South African professional golfer who has achieved success on the Sunshine Tour and European Tour.

The Moodley name has also been associated with literary figures, such as the late South African writer and academic Ronnie Govender (1934-2022), whose works often explored the experiences of the Indian diaspora in South Africa. Another notable figure was Phyllis Naidoo (née Moodley, 1928-2022), a South African author and activist known for her contributions to the anti-apartheid movement and the advancement of women's rights.

While the Moodley surname is predominantly found in South Africa, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and the global Indian diaspora. However, its roots can be traced back to the early Indian immigrants who shaped the cultural and social fabric of South Africa during the colonial era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Moodley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moodley 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. Surrey leads with 5 Moodleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.15x.

County Total Index
Surrey 5 13.15x
Derbyshire 3 24.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 5 Moodleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 215.52x.

Place Total Index
Bermondsey 5 215.52x
Long Eaton 3 1875.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 1
Mary 1
Nancy 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Frederick 1
Hebries 1
Henry 1
James 1
Robert 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 Moodley households.

FAQ

Moodley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Moodley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Moodley surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Moodley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 281 in 2016. That gives Moodley a modern rank of #15,449.

What does the Moodley surname mean?

An occupational surname of Indian origin referring to a merchant or trader.

What does the Moodley map show?

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