UK surname
A toponymic surname derived from a place name containing the Old Norse elements mos ("marsh") and by ("village").
In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Moseby surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65, ranked #34,017, down from #30,872 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Duffield, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moseby is 105 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 242.1%.
1881 census count
19
Ranked #30,872
Modern count
65
2016, ranked #34,017
Peak year
1891
105 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Moseby surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Moseby 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 | 19 | #29,904 |
| 1861 | historical | 45 | #28,296 |
| 1881 | historical | 19 | #30,872 |
| 1891 | historical | 105 | #23,241 |
| 1901 | historical | 53 | #28,271 |
| 1911 | historical | 41 | #28,802 |
| 1997 | modern | 60 | #31,629 |
| 1998 | modern | 61 | #31,841 |
| 1999 | modern | 68 | #31,311 |
| 2000 | modern | 65 | #31,641 |
| 2001 | modern | 62 | #31,798 |
| 2002 | modern | 62 | #32,214 |
| 2003 | modern | 61 | #32,352 |
| 2004 | modern | 56 | #33,067 |
| 2005 | modern | 54 | #33,433 |
| 2006 | modern | 52 | #33,923 |
| 2007 | modern | 51 | #34,272 |
| 2008 | modern | 52 | #34,381 |
| 2009 | modern | 59 | #34,072 |
| 2010 | modern | 55 | #34,536 |
| 2011 | modern | 68 | #33,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 64 | #34,028 |
| 2013 | modern | 65 | #34,059 |
| 2014 | modern | 63 | #34,212 |
| 2015 | modern | 65 | #34,036 |
| 2016 | modern | 65 | #34,017 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Duffield, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Gateshead, Wingfield, North and Newcastle All Saints. 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 | Duffield | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 3 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 4 | Wingfield, North | Derbyshire |
| 5 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Moseby 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 Moseby, 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 Moseby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Moseby 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, Moseby 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 Moseby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Moseby, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Moseby has its origins in the medieval English language, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in the regions of Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name Moseby is a locational surname, derived from the Old English words "mos" meaning "moss" and "by" meaning "a village or settlement."
This surname was likely given to individuals who hailed from a small village or hamlet with a mossy or marshy terrain. Historical records suggest that the earliest known spelling variations of the name include Moseby, Mosbye, and Mosby. These variations were commonly found in medieval tax rolls and land deeds from the 13th and 14th centuries.
One of the earliest known references to the surname Moseby can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1202, where a certain Adam de Moseby is mentioned. Another notable mention is in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from 1332, which lists a John Moseby as a landowner.
In the 15th century, the Moseby family was well-established in the village of Mosby, located in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Sir John Moseby (1420-1498) was a prominent member of this family and served as a knight under King Henry VI during the Wars of the Roses.
During the 16th century, the Moseby surname gained further recognition with the birth of James Moseby (1552-1612), a renowned English scholar and theologian. He was educated at the University of Cambridge and later became the Rector of St. Clement's Church in Ipswich.
Another notable figure with the Moseby surname was Sir Edward Moseby (1615-1675), a Royalist officer who fought in the English Civil War. He was knighted for his loyalty to King Charles I and later served as a member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles II.
In the 18th century, the Moseby family had established themselves in various parts of England, with pockets of the surname found in counties such as Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire. One notable individual from this era was William Moseby (1732-1803), a successful merchant and landowner who resided in the town of Newark.
Throughout its history, the Moseby surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Mosby in Derbyshire, Moseby in Leicestershire, and Mosebyholm in Yorkshire. These place names likely originated from the same Old English roots as the surname itself, further reinforcing the locational significance of the name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moseby 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. Derbyshire leads with 6 Mosebys recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.69x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire | 6 | 20.69x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 20.02x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 10.89x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 6.42x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.46x |
| Sussex | 1 | 3.20x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Claylane in Derbyshire leads with 6 Mosebys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1500.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Claylane | 6 | 1500.00x |
| Gotham | 5 | 7142.86x |
| Birmingham | 3 | 19.27x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 3 | 181.82x |
| Ardwick | 1 | 50.51x |
| Brighton | 1 | 15.87x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Moseby 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 Moseby 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 Moseby households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Hawker Of Combs Etc | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Watch & Clock Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Moseby surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016. That gives Moseby a modern rank of #34,017.
A toponymic surname derived from a place name containing the Old Norse elements mos ("marsh") and by ("village").
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Moseby 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.