UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old English mos, referring to someone who lived near a peat bog.
In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Moose surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 35, ranked #35,703, down from #31,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, St Pancras and East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moose is 226 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 94.4%.
1881 census count
18
Ranked #31,019
Modern count
35
2016, ranked #35,703
Peak year
1861
226 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Moose surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Moose surname density by area, 1911 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 | 17 | #30,267 |
| 1861 | historical | 226 | #10,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 18 | #31,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 201 | #14,866 |
| 1901 | historical | 39 | #29,799 |
| 1911 | historical | 118 | #20,649 |
| 1997 | modern | 13 | #36,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 11 | #36,908 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 10 | #36,852 |
| 2002 | modern | 12 | #36,679 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 12 | #36,835 |
| 2005 | modern | 12 | #36,936 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 12 | #37,143 |
| 2009 | modern | 15 | #36,942 |
| 2010 | modern | 18 | #36,774 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 27 | #36,102 |
| 2013 | modern | 30 | #35,990 |
| 2014 | modern | 35 | #35,722 |
| 2015 | modern | 34 | #35,756 |
| 2016 | modern | 35 | #35,703 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, St Pancras, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Lambeth and St Marylebone. 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 | St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju | Norfolk |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Moose 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 Moose, 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 Moose surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Moose 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, Moose 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 Moose is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Moose, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "MOOSE" is of English origin, derived from the Middle English word "mos" or "musse," which meant a small rodent-like creature, specifically referring to a small variety of mouse. This surname first emerged in the 13th century in various regions of England, particularly in areas where Old English dialects were spoken.
In the early medieval period, surnames were often derived from occupations, physical characteristics, or similarities to animals. It is believed that the surname "MOOSE" was initially given as a nickname to individuals who were small in stature or displayed mouse-like behavior, such as being quiet or stealthy.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "MOOSE" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1230, where a person named Roger Musse is mentioned. This surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, which lists a Thomas Mus.
During the 14th century, the surname "MOOSE" evolved into various spellings, including "Mous," "Mousse," and "Muse." These variations can be found in historical documents such as the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, where a John Mous is recorded.
Notable individuals with the surname "MOOSE" throughout history include:
1. William Mowse (c. 1520 - 1588), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. 2. Thomas Mosse (c. 1608 - 1668), an English composer and organist who worked at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. 3. Robert Moosse (1662 - 1737), a British naval officer who played a significant role in the War of the Spanish Succession. 4. Mary Moose (1789 - 1864), an English author and poet who published several works in the early 19th century. 5. Edmund Moose (1864 - 1942), a British explorer and surveyor who mapped various regions in Africa and Asia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
While the surname "MOOSE" may have originated from a humble association with small rodents, it has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moose 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. Surrey leads with 6 Mooses recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.01x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 6 | 7.01x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 11.61x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 1.14x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 1.15x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 8.99x |
| Devon | 1 | 2.74x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 3.70x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 4.68x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 4 Mooses recorded in 1881 and an index of 123.46x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 4 | 123.46x |
| Wotton | 4 | 10000.00x |
| Addingham | 2 | 1538.46x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 13.06x |
| Bury St Edmunds St James | 1 | 175.44x |
| Ditchingham | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Great Torrington | 1 | 476.19x |
| Islington London | 1 | 5.88x |
| Linton | 1 | 909.09x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 15.48x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Moose 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 Moose 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 Moose households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Collector Of Poor Rates | 1 |
| Collectors Wife | 1 |
| Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Flax Dresser | 1 |
| General Domestic | 1 |
| General Female Servant | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Semsstress | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Silk Cutter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Moose surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 35 in 2016. That gives Moose a modern rank of #35,703.
An English surname derived from the Old English mos, referring to someone who lived near a peat bog.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Moose 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.