NameCensus.

UK surname

Moser

An occupational surname referring to someone who makes boots or shoes, derived from the German word "Moser."

In the 1881 census there were 125 people recorded with the Moser surname, ranking it #17,335 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 294, ranked #14,953, up from #17,335 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntingdonshire, East Hampshire and Daventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moser is 304 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 135.2%.

1881 census count

125

Ranked #17,335

Modern count

294

2016, ranked #14,953

Peak year

2000

304 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Moser had 125 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,335 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 294 in 2016, ranked #14,953.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 215 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Moser surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moser surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Moser 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 71 #20,875
1861 historical 80 #23,566
1881 historical 125 #17,335
1891 historical 158 #17,705
1901 historical 180 #16,171
1911 historical 215 #14,290
1997 modern 276 #14,290
1998 modern 298 #13,937
1999 modern 289 #14,320
2000 modern 304 #13,791
2001 modern 294 #13,896
2002 modern 294 #14,180
2003 modern 285 #14,295
2004 modern 274 #14,762
2005 modern 257 #15,365
2006 modern 270 #14,923
2007 modern 255 #15,687
2008 modern 255 #15,859
2009 modern 275 #15,349
2010 modern 288 #15,162
2011 modern 268 #15,843
2012 modern 290 #14,838
2013 modern 291 #15,067
2014 modern 292 #15,129
2015 modern 291 #15,078
2016 modern 294 #14,953

Geography

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Where Mosers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Huntingdonshire, East Hampshire, Daventry, Cornwall and Harlow. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntingdonshire 021 Huntingdonshire
2 East Hampshire 011 East Hampshire
3 Daventry 010 Daventry
4 Cornwall 054 Cornwall
5 Harlow 002 Harlow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Moser

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Moser

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Moser, 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 Moser surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Moser 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Moser is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Moser 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

Moser falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Moser 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Moser

The surname Moser originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with its earliest known origins dating back to the Middle Ages. The name is believed to have derived from the German word "Moser," which referred to a person who lived near or worked in a moss-covered or swampy area. Alternatively, it may have stemmed from the Middle High German word "mos," meaning "bog" or "marsh."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Moser name can be traced back to the 13th century, with references found in ancient manuscripts and records from various regions of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name's spelling evolved over time, with variations such as Mozer, Moeser, and Mooser appearing in different historical documents.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Johannes Moser was mentioned in the city records of Nuremberg, Germany. Another individual, Hans Moser, was a respected craftsman in the town of Ulm, Germany, during the 15th century.

The Moser surname gained prominence in the 16th century, with several notable individuals bearing this name. One of them was Caspar Moser (1536-1585), a renowned German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.

In the 17th century, the Moser family established a glassmaking tradition in the Bohemian region of the Habsburg Monarchy (now part of the Czech Republic). The family's expertise in glassmaking was highly regarded, and their works became prized possessions among European nobility and royalty. Ludwig Moser (1633-1705) was a renowned glassmaker during this period.

The 18th century saw the emergence of Johann Jacob Moser (1701-1785), a prominent German jurist and political theorist who made significant contributions to the field of public law. His works influenced the development of modern constitutional theory.

In the 19th century, the Moser name gained further recognition with individuals like Eduard Moser (1826-1896), a Swiss politician and statesman who served as a member of the Federal Council, the executive branch of the Swiss government.

Other notable figures with the Moser surname include Gustav von Moser (1825-1903), a Prussian military officer and writer, and Mary Moser (1744-1819), an English painter and one of the founding members of the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

Throughout its history, the Moser surname has been associated with various professions, including glassmaking, theology, law, politics, and the arts, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Moser families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moser 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 40 Mosers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.28x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 40 3.28x
Surrey 21 3.54x
Lancashire 16 1.11x
Westmorland 15 55.99x
Yorkshire 9 0.75x
Hampshire 8 3.20x
Essex 4 1.66x
Northamptonshire 4 3.49x
Cheshire 3 1.11x
Sussex 2 0.97x
Kent 1 0.24x
Northumberland 1 0.55x
Shropshire 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. Croydon in Surrey leads with 13 Mosers recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.43x.

Place Total Index
Croydon 13 39.43x
Lancaster 12 139.37x
Nether Graveship 8 3076.92x
St Giles In Fields 8 190.48x
Kendal 7 142.86x
Christchurch 6 110.70x
Kensington London 6 8.85x
St George Bloomsbury 6 85.84x
St Pancras London 5 5.10x
Peterborough 4 48.19x
Priest Hutton 4 4444.44x
Streatham 4 44.25x
West Ham 4 7.53x
Disley Stanley 3 215.83x
Hessle In Sculcoates 3 280.37x
Islington London 3 2.54x
St George Martyr 3 146.34x
Clerkenwell London 2 6.95x
Eastbourne 2 21.14x
Hunslet 2 10.62x
Manningham 2 13.44x
Southampton All Sts 2 46.62x
St George In East 2 24.13x
Caterham 1 38.02x
Clifford Cum Boston 1 91.74x
Guildford St Nicholas 1 95.24x
Hammersmith London 1 3.33x
Limehouse London 1 7.47x
Maidstone 1 8.07x
Mile End Old Town 1 5.20x
Mortlake 1 37.74x
Newington 1 2.22x
Northallerton 1 64.94x
Paddington London 1 2.23x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 24.04x
Tynemouth 1 10.30x
Westminster St John 1 6.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 5
Alice 4
Elizabeth 4
Mary 4
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Florence 2
(Mrs) 1
Ada 1
Amy 1
Augustine 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elise 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizbth.M. 1
Ellen 1
Evelyn 1
Frances 1
G.Dora 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Katherine 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Lucie 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Magdelene 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Mina 1
Nancy 1
Polly 1
Rebecca 1
Rosine 1
Sophie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
George 4
Jacob 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
William 3
Andrew 2
Charles 2
Frederick 2
Fredrick 2
Herbert 2
James 2
Walter 2
(Mr) 1
Alex 1
Alfred 1
Auguste 1
Bernard 1
Broniaslas 1
Clement 1
Edward 1
Frederic 1
Hans 1
Harold 1
Julius 1
Leonard 1
Leslie 1
Louis 1
Ludwig 1
Oswald 1
R. 1
Ralph 1
Rd. 1
Robt.Fletcher 1
Roger 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Moser surname: questions and answers

How common was the Moser surname in 1881?

In 1881, 125 people were recorded with the Moser surname. That placed it at #17,335 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Moser surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 294 in 2016. That gives Moser a modern rank of #14,953.

What does the Moser surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who makes boots or shoes, derived from the German word "Moser."

What does the Moser map show?

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