NameCensus.

UK surname

Mose

Derived from the biblical figure Moses, likely referring to a person who was saved from water.

In the 1881 census there were 122 people recorded with the Mose surname, ranking it #17,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 109, ranked #29,402, down from #17,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Epping, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waverley, Uttlesford and St Edmundsbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mose is 230 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.7%.

1881 census count

122

Ranked #17,602

Modern count

109

2016, ranked #29,402

Peak year

1861

230 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mose had 122 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016, ranked #29,402.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 230 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mose surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mose surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mose 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 114 #15,716
1861 historical 230 #10,611
1881 historical 122 #17,602
1891 historical 222 #13,854
1901 historical 118 #20,721
1911 historical 185 #15,686
1997 modern 127 #23,352
1998 modern 124 #24,316
1999 modern 134 #23,378
2000 modern 128 #24,015
2001 modern 120 #24,615
2002 modern 120 #25,110
2003 modern 111 #26,091
2004 modern 112 #26,159
2005 modern 101 #27,854
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 108 #27,391
2008 modern 113 #26,920
2009 modern 112 #27,685
2010 modern 111 #28,509
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 108 #29,379
2014 modern 107 #29,827
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 109 #29,402

Geography

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Where Moses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Epping, London parishes, 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 Waverley, Uttlesford, St Edmundsbury, Islington and Central Bedfordshire. 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 Epping Essex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waverley 005 Waverley
2 Uttlesford 003 Uttlesford
3 St Edmundsbury 003 St Edmundsbury
4 Islington 023 Islington
5 Central Bedfordshire 026 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mose

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mose

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Mose is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mose 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

Mose falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mose 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 Mose, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mose

The surname MOSE originated from Italy in the late 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "mose," which means "moss" or "mossy." This surname was likely given to someone who lived near a mossy area or worked with moss in some capacity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname MOSE can be found in the historical records of the city of Venice, Italy, dating back to the late 1400s. During this time, the city of Venice was a major maritime power, and it is possible that the surname was associated with individuals involved in the shipping or maritime industries.

In the 16th century, the name MOSE appeared in various documents and records across Italy, particularly in the regions of Veneto and Lombardy. It is worth noting that the spelling of the surname may have varied slightly during this period, with variations such as "Mosi" or "Mosè" being common.

One notable individual with the surname MOSE was Giovanni Battista Mose, an Italian sculptor who lived from 1610 to 1680. He was renowned for his works in marble and is considered one of the most skilled sculptors of the Baroque period in Italy.

Another significant figure with the surname MOSE was Antonio Mose, an Italian architect who lived from 1715 to 1788. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in Venice, including the Church of San Stae and the Palazzo Grimani.

In the 19th century, the surname MOSE was also found in other parts of Europe, particularly in France and Germany. One notable individual from this period was Johann Mose, a German musician and composer who lived from 1801 to 1867. He is best known for his contributions to the development of the romantic style in music.

Another individual of note with the surname MOSE was Luciano Mose, an Italian painter who lived from 1857 to 1924. He was a prominent figure in the Divisionist movement, a style of painting that emphasized the use of tiny brushstrokes of pure color to create a vibrant and luminous effect.

While the surname MOSE may not be as common today as it once was, it remains a part of the rich cultural heritage of Italy and serves as a reminder of the diverse and fascinating origins of many surnames found across the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mose families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mose 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. Middlesex leads with 29 Moses recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.44x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 29 2.44x
Sussex 23 11.47x
Surrey 18 3.10x
Kent 9 2.22x
Devon 7 2.83x
Nottinghamshire 6 3.74x
Warwickshire 6 2.00x
Channel Islands 4 11.34x
Dorset 4 5.12x
Hertfordshire 4 4.88x
Somerset 3 1.57x
Caernarfonshire 2 4.16x
Cheshire 2 0.76x
Lancashire 2 0.14x
Berkshire 1 1.12x
Hampshire 1 0.41x
Wiltshire 1 0.95x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 10 Moses recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.67x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 10 8.67x
St Marylebone London 8 12.59x
Birmingham 6 6.00x
Chobham 6 588.24x
Deal 6 173.41x
Hastings St Leonards 6 203.39x
Kirkby In Ashfield 6 348.84x
Eastbourne 5 54.17x
Bothenhampton 4 1818.18x
Hove 4 45.45x
Tottenham 4 21.11x
Woking 4 114.61x
Axminster 3 258.62x
Chard 3 129.31x
Hastings All Sts 3 158.73x
Lambeth 3 2.89x
Paddington London 3 6.86x
St Peter Port 3 46.01x
Bideford 2 75.47x
Bisley 2 740.74x
Digswell 2 2222.22x
Hastings St Mary 2 40.08x
Lewisham 2 9.24x
Liscard 2 42.28x
Llanbeblig 2 40.98x
Manchester 2 3.15x
Mile End Old Town 2 10.65x
Rickmansworth 2 88.50x
Rotherhithe 2 13.61x
South Bersted 2 116.96x
Uplyme 2 540.54x
Battersea 1 2.28x
Bradford On Avon 1 29.67x
Chartham 1 99.01x
Fareham 1 34.13x
Grouville 1 102.04x
Old Windsor 1 97.09x
Ore 1 67.11x
Poplar London 1 4.45x
Whitechapel London 1 8.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Alice 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Lucy 2
Mary 2
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Constance 1
Edith 1
Elisabeth 1
Eliz 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Hariet 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Jessie 1
Joanna 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Laurence 1
Mose 1
Nancy 1
Rose 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Mose surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mose surname in 1881?

In 1881, 122 people were recorded with the Mose surname. That placed it at #17,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mose surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016. That gives Mose a modern rank of #29,402.

What does the Mose surname mean?

Derived from the biblical figure Moses, likely referring to a person who was saved from water.

What does the Mose map show?

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