NameCensus.

UK surname

Mosey

A surname derived from the verb "mosey," meaning to move slowly or leisurely.

In the 1881 census there were 231 people recorded with the Mosey surname, ranking it #11,722 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 524, ranked #9,666, up from #11,722 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Halifax and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Nuneaton and Bedworth, Ryedale and Southwark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mosey is 591 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 126.8%.

1881 census count

231

Ranked #11,722

Modern count

524

2016, ranked #9,666

Peak year

2000

591 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mosey had 231 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,722 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 524 in 2016, ranked #9,666.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 327 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Mosey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mosey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mosey 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 216 #9,818
1861 historical 217 #11,220
1881 historical 231 #11,722
1891 historical 311 #10,781
1901 historical 282 #12,145
1911 historical 327 #10,742
1997 modern 527 #8,948
1998 modern 554 #8,876
1999 modern 550 #8,984
2000 modern 591 #8,507
2001 modern 561 #8,672
2002 modern 554 #8,933
2003 modern 547 #8,872
2004 modern 540 #8,978
2005 modern 531 #9,034
2006 modern 531 #9,063
2007 modern 517 #9,331
2008 modern 518 #9,388
2009 modern 537 #9,341
2010 modern 538 #9,523
2011 modern 543 #9,373
2012 modern 532 #9,421
2013 modern 538 #9,514
2014 modern 543 #9,497
2015 modern 533 #9,553
2016 modern 524 #9,666

Geography

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Where Moseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Halifax, London parishes, Leeds and Scarborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Nuneaton and Bedworth, Ryedale, Southwark, Carmarthenshire and Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Nuneaton and Bedworth 016 Nuneaton and Bedworth
2 Ryedale 003 Ryedale
3 Southwark 019 Southwark
4 Carmarthenshire 016 Carmarthenshire
5 Redcar and Cleveland 010 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mosey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mosey

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Mosey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mosey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mosey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Mosey is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mosey falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mosey

The surname Mosey originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "mos," meaning "swamp" or "marsh," suggesting that the name was initially used to describe someone who lived near a marshy area.

The first recorded instance of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195, where a person named Roger de Mose is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the connection to the Old English word "mos."

In the 13th century, the name was also found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where it was spelled as "Mosy." This suggests that the name had already begun to evolve into its more modern form during this period.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the Mosey surname was Sir John Mosey, a knight who lived in the late 14th century. He was recorded as serving in the military campaigns of King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War.

During the 16th century, the name was sometimes associated with place names like Moseley, a town in the West Midlands region of England. This connection to a specific location likely contributed to the surname's continued use and spread.

In the 17th century, a notable figure named Thomas Mosey was born in 1632 in Gloucestershire. He was a prominent landowner and local magistrate, indicating the family's status and influence in the region at the time.

Another individual of note was William Mosey, born in 1745 in Oxfordshire. He was a renowned scholar and author, publishing several works on history and literature during his lifetime.

As the surname spread across England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles. In the 19th century, a Scottish minister named James Mosey, born in 1812 in Edinburgh, gained recognition for his religious writings and sermons.

Throughout its history, the Mosey surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Mosy, Moze, Moose, and Mossie, reflecting the flexibility of surname spellings in earlier times. However, the current spelling of Mosey has become the most widely accepted and recognized form.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mosey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mosey 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. Yorkshire leads with 139 Moseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.20x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 139 6.20x
Middlesex 30 1.33x
Durham 12 1.78x
Devon 10 2.12x
Lincolnshire 10 2.76x
Glamorgan 8 2.03x
Lancashire 7 0.26x
Surrey 7 0.63x
Northumberland 2 0.59x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.66x
Cheshire 1 0.20x
Cumberland 1 0.51x
Kent 1 0.13x
Lanarkshire 1 0.14x
Renfrewshire 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 23 Moseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.16x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 23 18.16x
Norton In Malton 12 441.18x
Great Driffield 8 173.91x
Poplar London 8 18.73x
Scarborough 8 39.25x
Swansea Lower 8 398.01x
Aldbrough In Richmond 7 2258.06x
Dartmouth St Petrox 7 1029.41x
Kensington London 7 5.56x
Limehouse London 7 28.18x
Manchester 7 5.80x
Holy Trinity 6 11.12x
Thirsk 6 231.66x
Westoe 6 15.72x
Falsgrave 5 151.52x
Hedleyhope 5 427.35x
Long Drax 5 4166.67x
Owston 5 485.44x
Sculcoates 5 14.06x
South Cave 5 666.67x
Camberwell 4 2.77x
Eastrington 4 1333.33x
Hipperholme Cum 4 40.61x
Kilburn 4 1333.33x
St Nicholas Lincoln 4 115.61x
Brandsby Cum Stearsby 3 1304.35x
Harthill Cum Woodall 3 348.84x
Old Malton 3 212.77x
Skerne 3 2142.86x
Tooting Graveney 3 97.72x
Beverley St Martin 2 53.48x
Beverley St Mary 2 60.98x
Chirton 2 26.25x
Horsforth 2 40.65x
New Malton 2 74.63x
Nottingham St Mary 2 2.54x
Paddington London 2 2.40x
Plymouth Charles The 2 9.64x
Ruston Parva 2 2000.00x
Skipton 2 28.33x
St Marylebone London 2 1.66x
Yearsley 2 1538.46x
Arlecdon 1 19.31x
Ashford 1 55.87x
Buckland In Dover 1 39.06x
Carlton In Selby 1 172.41x
Claughton With Grange 1 43.86x
Cornsay 1 55.25x
Eastwood 1 9.26x
Embsay Cum Eastby 1 109.89x
Filey 1 55.25x
Govan 1 0.55x
Great Habton Little 1 588.24x
Hipswell 1 476.19x
Lebberston 1 833.33x
Mirfield 1 8.12x
North Bierley 1 8.26x
Owthorne 1 238.10x
Sidmouth 1 37.04x
St Andrew Holborn 1 13.04x
St Botolph Lincoln 1 38.46x
St George Hanover 1 3.39x
St Pancras London 1 0.55x
Woodsetts 1 526.32x
York St Maurice 1 23.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Ann 9
Jane 9
Elizabeth 7
Margaret 5
Annie 4
Eleanor 4
Sarah 4
Amy 3
Edith 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Isabella 3
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Jemima 2
Louisa 2
Anne 1
Anny 1
Carry 1
Catherine 1
Dorithy 1
Elizebth 1
Elizh. 1
Esther 1
Fidella 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Harriott 1
Heather 1
Infant 1
Isabell 1
Ivy 1
Judith 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Livinia 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
Polly 1
Rachel 1
Rhoda 1
Rosa 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
George 12
John 10
James 6
Alfred 4
Henry 4
Richard 4
Thomas 4
Francis 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Philip 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Tom 2
Chaloner 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Edward 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Hessey 1
J. 1
Jas. 1
Jos.M. 1
Lancelot 1
Matthew 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Richd. 1
Robinson 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1
Wm 1

FAQ

Mosey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mosey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 231 people were recorded with the Mosey surname. That placed it at #11,722 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mosey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 524 in 2016. That gives Mosey a modern rank of #9,666.

What does the Mosey surname mean?

A surname derived from the verb "mosey," meaning to move slowly or leisurely.

What does the Mosey map show?

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