NameCensus.

UK surname

Moss

An English topographic surname for someone who lived near a peat bog or marshy area.

In the 1881 census there were 18,432 people recorded with the Moss surname, ranking it #205 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24,600, ranked #234, down from #205 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Leeds and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chorley, Staffordshire Moorlands and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moss is 26,186 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.5%.

1881 census count

18,432

Ranked #205

Modern count

24,600

2016, ranked #234

Peak year

1999

26,186 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Moss had 18,432 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #205 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 24,600 in 2016, ranked #234.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 25,410 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Moss surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moss surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Moss 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 12,112 #206
1861 historical 10,915 #228
1881 historical 18,432 #205
1891 historical 19,486 #204
1901 historical 23,025 #205
1911 historical 25,410 #168
1997 modern 24,698 #220
1998 modern 26,006 #218
1999 modern 26,186 #217
2000 modern 26,033 #217
2001 modern 25,368 #217
2002 modern 25,974 #217
2003 modern 25,305 #219
2004 modern 25,212 #220
2005 modern 24,620 #223
2006 modern 24,587 #224
2007 modern 24,642 #225
2008 modern 24,597 #226
2009 modern 25,098 #227
2010 modern 25,542 #226
2011 modern 25,165 #226
2012 modern 24,380 #232
2013 modern 25,020 #229
2014 modern 25,021 #234
2015 modern 24,734 #234
2016 modern 24,600 #234

Geography

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Where Moss' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Leeds, Manchester and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chorley, Staffordshire Moorlands, Cheshire East and Stafford. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chorley 014 Chorley
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 002 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Cheshire East 027 Cheshire East
5 Stafford 003 Stafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Moss

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Moss

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Moss 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

Moss is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Moss 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 Moss 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 Moss, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Moss

The surname Moss is an English name that originated in the Middle Ages, derived from the Old English word "mos" meaning a peat bog or marsh. It was likely first used as a topographical surname, referring to someone who lived near or worked in a mossy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Moss surname is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Mos." This suggests that the name was already in use in England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various English records with different spellings, such as "Mosse," "Mose," and "Muss." These variations reflect the regional dialects and the evolving spelling conventions of the time.

The Moss surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One example is Thomas Moss (1553-1624), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Truro in 1597 and 1601.

Another prominent figure with the Moss surname was Robert Moss (1666-1729), an English physician and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the 18th century.

In the 19th century, Elizabeth Moss (1834-1911) was a British author and educator who wrote several works on literature and education, including "A Dictionary of Classical Literature and Antiquities."

The Moss surname has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Moss Side in Manchester and Moss Pit Village in Staffordshire, further reinforcing its topographical origins.

One of the most famous individuals with the Moss surname in recent history is Jesse Moss (born 1973), an American documentary filmmaker known for his works "The Overnighters" (2014) and "Boys State" (2020), which received critical acclaim.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Moss families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moss 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. Lancashire leads with 4,229 Moss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.98x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 4,229 1.98x
Middlesex 1,916 1.06x
Yorkshire 1,843 1.03x
Cheshire 1,194 3.00x
Staffordshire 943 1.55x
Essex 903 2.54x
Surrey 835 0.95x
Suffolk 623 2.84x
Gloucestershire 557 1.58x
Derbyshire 490 1.74x
Kent 485 0.79x
Warwickshire 394 0.87x
Nottinghamshire 305 1.26x
Hampshire 293 0.79x
Berkshire 265 1.96x
Oxfordshire 223 2.01x
Norfolk 220 0.79x
Durham 203 0.38x
Worcestershire 188 0.80x
Leicestershire 169 0.85x
Lincolnshire 168 0.58x
Cambridgeshire 151 1.32x
Devon 150 0.40x
Herefordshire 149 2.02x
Glamorgan 125 0.40x
Northamptonshire 125 0.74x
Somerset 120 0.41x
Sussex 101 0.33x
Hertfordshire 99 0.80x
Wiltshire 83 0.52x
Denbighshire 78 1.15x
Dorset 70 0.59x
Shropshire 70 0.45x
Cornwall 68 0.33x
Monmouthshire 68 0.52x
Bedfordshire 60 0.64x
Buckinghamshire 57 0.52x
Westmorland 55 1.39x
Cumberland 46 0.30x
Lanarkshire 44 0.08x
Northumberland 35 0.13x
Angus 33 0.20x
Flintshire 26 0.54x
Midlothian 23 0.10x
Pembrokeshire 22 0.38x
Channel Islands 19 0.36x
Renfrewshire 15 0.11x
Caernarfonshire 13 0.18x
Montgomeryshire 13 0.32x
Brecknockshire 11 0.31x
Carmarthenshire 11 0.14x
Radnorshire 11 0.76x
Isle of Man 8 0.24x
Orkney 8 0.40x
Royal Navy 8 0.37x
Rutland 8 0.61x
Aberdeenshire 6 0.04x
Dumfriesshire 6 0.15x
Huntingdonshire 6 0.17x
Anglesey 2 0.06x
Ayrshire 1 0.01x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.02x
Inverness-shire 1 0.02x
Merionethshire 1 0.03x
Perthshire 1 0.01x
Roxburghshire 1 0.03x
Stirlingshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton Under Lyne in Lancashire leads with 296 Moss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.34x.

Place Total Index
Ashton Under Lyne 296 6.34x
Preston 257 4.50x
Islington London 241 1.38x
Leeds 225 2.23x
Stoke Upon Trent 150 2.33x
West Ham 147 1.87x
Lambeth 146 0.93x
Everton 137 2.01x
Salford 129 2.05x
Hackney London 127 1.26x
Aston 122 0.98x
Camberwell 122 1.06x
Kensington London 121 1.21x
Bethnal Green London 118 1.51x
Oldham 116 1.68x
St Pancras London 114 0.79x
Wigan 113 3.78x
West Derby 110 1.76x
Macclesfield 101 5.72x
Great Bolton 100 3.53x
Birmingham 98 0.65x
Mile End Old Town 97 3.41x
Manchester 93 0.97x
Paddington London 87 1.31x
Newington 85 1.28x
St Marylebone London 82 0.85x
Denton 80 16.90x
Great Yarmouth 79 3.44x
Liverpool 78 0.60x
Saddleworth 78 5.67x
Pendleton In Salford 77 3.03x
St George Hanover 75 3.19x
Kirkdale 74 2.06x
Tottenham 74 2.58x
Pemberton 73 8.57x
Widnes 73 4.74x
Blackburn 71 1.25x
Glossop Dale 70 5.30x
Hyde 70 5.97x
Nottingham St Mary 70 1.12x
Chorley 69 5.76x
Hulme 69 1.55x
Morley 69 7.44x
Barking 67 6.44x
Toxteth Park 67 0.93x
Lawshall 66 134.01x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 63 1.89x
Croydon 63 1.29x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 63 9.88x
Ascott Under Wychwood 62 250.81x
Bromley London 62 1.57x
Leicester St Margaret 58 1.19x
Barton Upon Irwell 55 3.42x
Bradford 55 1.27x
Portsea 55 0.76x
Shoreditch London 55 0.70x
Wolstanton 54 2.93x
Loughborough 53 5.85x
Holy Trinity 52 1.21x
Chelsea London 51 0.94x
Hunslet 51 1.83x
Warrington 51 2.01x
Biddulph 50 14.58x
Clerkenwell London 50 1.18x
Wortley In Bramley 50 3.54x
Congleton 48 6.99x
Leyland 48 12.91x
Pudsey 48 5.03x
Bristol St George 47 2.88x
Hammersmith London 47 1.06x
Stockton On Tees 47 1.82x
Gorton 46 2.29x
Heaton Norris 46 3.78x
Holbeck 46 3.89x
Stockport 45 2.20x
Wharton 45 20.79x
Beckenham 44 5.48x
Cirencester 43 8.99x
Leek Lowe 43 5.32x
Orrell 43 16.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1,255
Elizabeth 723
Sarah 674
Ann 392
Jane 343
Alice 336
Ellen 331
Eliza 286
Emma 277
Annie 262
Hannah 238
Margaret 204
Martha 192
Emily 182
Harriet 126
Louisa 124
Caroline 106
Ada 104
Fanny 101
Edith 93
Florence 91
Maria 91
Clara 90
Charlotte 89
Kate 83
Catherine 82
Frances 74
Lucy 71
Rose 62
Esther 58
Agnes 56
Anne 53
Sophia 51
Susan 51
Rebecca 48
Amelia 47
Harriett 45
Julia 43
Minnie 37
Matilda 36
Amy 35
Isabella 34
Lydia 34
Rachel 34
Eleanor 31
Ethel 30
Elizth. 29
Gertrude 29
Jessie 28
Susannah 28

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 1,117
John 1,009
Thomas 661
James 639
George 619
Henry 360
Joseph 358
Charles 353
Samuel 243
Robert 189
Arthur 184
Alfred 183
Edward 176
Richard 168
Frederick 155
Walter 121
Albert 113
Harry 102
Ernest 83
Herbert 78
Edwin 72
Isaac 68
David 67
Frank 67
Benjamin 60
Francis 57
Thos. 56
Fred 50
Peter 48
Wm. 43
Daniel 35
Abraham 34
Geo. 24
Chas. 22
Matthew 22
Hugh 20
Stephen 20
Fredk. 19
Mark 19
Sidney 19
Percy 18
Philip 18
Joshua 16
Moses 16
Tom 16
Leonard 15
Ralph 15
Willie 15
Fredrick 14
Sydney 14

FAQ

Moss surname: questions and answers

How common was the Moss surname in 1881?

In 1881, 18,432 people were recorded with the Moss surname. That placed it at #205 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Moss surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 24,600 in 2016. That gives Moss a modern rank of #234.

What does the Moss surname mean?

An English topographic surname for someone who lived near a peat bog or marshy area.

What does the Moss map show?

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