UK surname
A surname originating from the Old English word "mos" meaning a swampy area or bog.
In the 1881 census there were 28 people recorded with the Mossey surname, ranking it #29,646 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #29,646 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Walsingham, Eccles and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mossey is 221 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.1%.
1881 census count
28
Ranked #29,646
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1861
221 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mossey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mossey surname density by area, 1911 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 | 140 | #13,593 |
| 1861 | historical | 221 | #11,031 |
| 1881 | historical | 28 | #29,646 |
| 1891 | historical | 150 | #18,328 |
| 1901 | historical | 70 | #26,383 |
| 1911 | historical | 137 | #18,880 |
| 1997 | modern | 44 | #33,275 |
| 1998 | modern | 47 | #33,197 |
| 1999 | modern | 47 | #33,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 46 | #33,458 |
| 2001 | modern | 48 | #33,129 |
| 2002 | modern | 42 | #33,951 |
| 2003 | modern | 43 | #33,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 42 | #34,222 |
| 2005 | modern | 41 | #34,478 |
| 2006 | modern | 44 | #34,568 |
| 2007 | modern | 45 | #34,699 |
| 2008 | modern | 40 | #35,137 |
| 2009 | modern | 39 | #35,321 |
| 2010 | modern | 42 | #35,294 |
| 2011 | modern | 47 | #34,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 45 | #35,105 |
| 2013 | modern | 41 | #35,384 |
| 2014 | modern | 40 | #35,454 |
| 2015 | modern | 38 | #35,526 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Walsingham, Eccles, Manchester, Budworth, Great and London parishes. 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 | Walsingham | Durham |
| 2 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Budworth, Great | Cheshire |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mossey 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 Mossey, 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 Mossey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mossey 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, Mossey 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 Mossey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mossey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Mossey originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English term "moss," referring to a peat bog or marshy area, and the suffix "-ey," indicating an island or a place near water. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name likely resided in or near a mossy or swampy region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Mossey name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from the year 1195, where a Robert de Mossey is mentioned. This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence and its connection to the county of Lincolnshire in the late 12th century.
In the 13th century, the Mossey surname also appeared in various manorial records and court rolls from the county of Yorkshire. These documents often referred to individuals with variations of the name, such as Mosse, Mossi, or Mossie, further solidifying the surname's origins and evolution.
Throughout the centuries, the Mossey surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Sir William Mossey (1532-1603), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Ripon during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another noteworthy bearer of the name was John Mossey (1679-1743), a renowned English architect who designed several churches and country houses in the early 18th century.
In the 19th century, the Mossey surname gained further recognition with the birth of Henry Mossey (1819-1887), a celebrated English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes and countryside vistas. Additionally, Alfred Mossey (1847-1923), a prominent British architect and surveyor, made significant contributions to the design and construction of public buildings and infrastructure projects during the Victorian era.
The name Mossey has also been traced to various locations across England, including the village of Mossley in Greater Manchester, which likely derived its name from the same Old English roots as the surname. This connection highlights the strong ties between the surname and the geographical features associated with its origins.
While the Mossey surname may not be as prevalent as some other English surnames, its rich history and unique derivation from the Old English language have contributed to its enduring legacy and significance within the annals of English genealogy and onomastics.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mossey 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. Durham leads with 8 Mosseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.51x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 8 | 9.51x |
| Lanarkshire | 7 | 7.65x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 2.14x |
| Renfrewshire | 5 | 22.81x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 11.93x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 1.05x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.73x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wolsingham in Durham leads with 8 Mosseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1038.96x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wolsingham | 8 | 1038.96x |
| Hamilton | 6 | 235.29x |
| Ormesby | 6 | 800.00x |
| Neilston | 5 | 454.55x |
| Avondale | 1 | 188.68x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 42.55x |
| Newington | 1 | 9.57x |
| St Helier | 1 | 36.63x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mossey 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 Mossey 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 Mossey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Blast Furness Labourer (Iron) | 1 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Coalminer | 1 |
| Coke Drawer (Burner) | 1 |
| Late Laundress | 1 |
| Retired D Servant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 28 people were recorded with the Mossey surname. That placed it at #29,646 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Mossey a modern rank of #35,582.
A surname originating from the Old English word "mos" meaning a swampy area or bog.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mossey 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.