NameCensus.

UK surname

Mossop

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a mossy or bog-covered area.

In the 1881 census there were 815 people recorded with the Mossop surname, ranking it #4,592 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 786, ranked #7,024, down from #4,592 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Arlecdon and Egremont. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mossop is 867 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.6%.

1881 census count

815

Ranked #4,592

Modern count

786

2016, ranked #7,024

Peak year

1901

867 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mossop had 815 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,592 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 786 in 2016, ranked #7,024.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 867 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Mossop surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mossop surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mossop 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 595 #4,311
1861 historical 557 #4,727
1881 historical 815 #4,592
1891 historical 828 #4,904
1901 historical 867 #5,287
1911 historical 859 #5,168
1997 modern 794 #6,573
1998 modern 840 #6,497
1999 modern 843 #6,530
2000 modern 817 #6,664
2001 modern 799 #6,655
2002 modern 788 #6,856
2003 modern 768 #6,880
2004 modern 779 #6,817
2005 modern 761 #6,881
2006 modern 762 #6,896
2007 modern 768 #6,924
2008 modern 778 #6,912
2009 modern 796 #6,922
2010 modern 797 #7,052
2011 modern 783 #7,073
2012 modern 747 #7,252
2013 modern 764 #7,236
2014 modern 785 #7,115
2015 modern 775 #7,119
2016 modern 786 #7,024

Geography

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Where Mossops are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Arlecdon, Egremont, Blackburn and St Bridget Beckermet. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland. 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 St Bees Cumberland
2 Arlecdon Cumberland
3 Egremont Cumberland
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 St Bridget Beckermet Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 003 Copeland
2 Copeland 007 Copeland
3 Copeland 008 Copeland
4 Copeland 004 Copeland
5 Copeland 005 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mossop

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mossop

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Mossop surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mossop household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mossop 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

Mossop is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mossop

The surname Mossop is of English origin, derived from the Old English words 'mos' meaning 'moss' and 'hop' meaning 'small valley'. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, referring to someone who lived in a mossy valley or near a mossy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mossop can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Moseshope'. This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in England.

During the medieval period, variations in spelling were common, and the name appeared in various forms such as Mosshoppe, Moshope, and Mosshop. These variations reflect the regional dialects and phonetic changes that occurred over time.

In the 16th century, the name Mossop was predominantly found in Lancashire and Yorkshire, where it was associated with families living in or near mossy areas or small valleys. One notable individual from this period was William Mossop (c. 1550-1624), a landowner and merchant from Lancashire.

By the 17th century, the name had spread to other parts of England, and several notable individuals bore the surname. One example is James Mossop (1638-1686), an English actor and playwright who performed at the Theatre Royal in London.

In the 18th century, Henry Mossop (1729-1805) was a prominent Irish actor and theatre manager who played leading roles in the works of Shakespeare and other renowned playwrights.

The 19th century saw the rise of several prominent figures with the surname Mossop. One of them was Thomas Mossop (1818-1888), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in Liverpool, including the Walker Art Gallery.

Another significant individual from this period was Edwin Mossop (1853-1926), a British politician and member of Parliament who served as the Postmaster General from 1916 to 1922.

In the 20th century, Harold Mossop (1892-1975) was a notable English cricketer who played for Warwickshire County Cricket Club and represented England in Test matches between 1920 and 1930.

The surname Mossop has a rich history, reflecting its locational origins and the migrations of families bearing this name over centuries. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation, its connection to mossy areas and small valleys remains a defining characteristic of its etymology.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mossop families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mossop 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. Cumberland leads with 472 Mossops recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.30x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 472 69.30x
Lancashire 193 2.06x
Durham 27 1.15x
Lincolnshire 25 1.98x
Yorkshire 21 0.27x
Middlesex 18 0.23x
Surrey 14 0.36x
Staffordshire 13 0.49x
Essex 6 0.38x
Westmorland 6 3.45x
Norfolk 4 0.33x
Cheshire 3 0.17x
Northamptonshire 3 0.40x
Sussex 2 0.15x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.40x
Rutland 1 1.72x
Somerset 1 0.08x
Worcestershire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Egremont in Cumberland leads with 51 Mossops recorded in 1881 and an index of 314.04x.

Place Total Index
Egremont 51 314.04x
Whitehaven 44 121.21x
Blackburn 37 14.81x
Beckermet St Bridget 35 1955.31x
St Bees 25 793.65x
Gosforth 23 692.77x
Preston Quarter 22 115.24x
Lamplugh 21 614.04x
Arlecdon 20 110.44x
Dearham 18 200.22x
Liverpool 17 2.98x
Moresby 15 579.15x
Sutton St Mary 15 125.42x
Church Coniston 14 532.32x
Dean 13 582.96x
Eccleshall 13 128.33x
Beckermet St John 12 705.88x
Bootle 12 545.45x
Bridekirk 12 220.59x
Dalton In Furness 12 33.11x
Everton 12 4.01x
Irton With Santon 12 710.06x
Kirkdale 11 6.97x
Ponsonby 10 2222.22x
Ashton Under Lyne 9 4.39x
Blindbothel 9 4090.91x
Chelsea London 9 3.78x
Dilworth 9 156.52x
Distington 9 257.14x
Flimby 8 139.13x
Lower Allithwaite 8 355.56x
Ulverston 8 29.26x
Wandsworth 8 10.51x
Above Derwent 7 276.68x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 9.39x
Burnley 7 8.86x
Crosscanonby 7 31.07x
Manningham 7 7.25x
Barrow In Furness 6 4.70x
Cleator 6 21.16x
Holbeach 6 42.58x
Hutton Soil 6 576.92x
Kinniside 6 923.08x
Lamesley 6 47.36x
Usworth 6 48.00x
West Clayton 6 154.24x
Crook Billy Row 5 16.59x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 5 105.93x
Mosser 5 2380.95x
Prittlewell 5 23.11x
Tudhoe 5 24.28x
Winscales 5 1785.71x
Camberwell 4 0.79x
Drigg Carleton 4 261.44x
Haile 4 506.33x
Hampstead London 4 3.25x
Kirkby Stephen 4 88.69x
Orton 4 325.20x
Parr 4 11.91x
Toxteth Park 4 1.26x
Washington 4 40.53x
West Newton Allonby 4 168.78x
Aspatria 3 45.80x
Birkenhead 3 2.16x
Bradford 3 1.58x
Holme St Cuthbert 3 148.51x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 3 8.21x
Lancaster 3 5.37x
Lowside Quarter 3 352.94x
Nether Wasdale 3 576.92x
Walton On Hill 3 5.90x
Woodplumpton 3 89.29x
Castleton 2 2.13x
Etton 2 540.54x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 2 47.73x
Kensington London 2 0.45x
Keswick 2 22.96x
Moulton 2 32.84x
Seaton 2 25.16x
Stainburn 2 327.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 78
Elizabeth 44
Jane 35
Sarah 34
Hannah 27
Ann 15
Ellen 15
Eleanor 14
Margaret 12
Annie 11
Catherine 7
Frances 7
Eliza 5
Martha 5
Agnes 4
Isabella 4
Ada 3
Bridget 3
Eliz. 3
Emma 3
Faith 3
Fanny 3
Ruth 3
Betsy 2
Catharine 2
Christina 2
Clara 2
Dorothy 2
Edith 2
Harriet 2
Janet 2
Josephine 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Maud 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Betty 1
Cathe. 1
Christian 1
Christihannah 1
Clementina 1
Dinah 1
Effie 1
Elenor 1
Eve 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Georgiana 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 74
William 54
Isaac 32
Joseph 30
Thomas 28
Henry 26
Clement 20
Charles 14
George 11
James 9
Robert 7
Moses 6
Samuel 5
Daniel 4
Sharp 4
Edward 3
Jas. 3
Watson 3
Albert 2
Anthony 2
Dixon 2
Frank 2
Matthew 2
Maurice 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Tom 2
Augustus 1
Ben 1
Claxton 1
Clemnent 1
Clyde 1
Cyril 1
Edwin 1
Eldred 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Josiah 1
Lancelot 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Mathew 1
Owen 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Mossop surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mossop surname in 1881?

In 1881, 815 people were recorded with the Mossop surname. That placed it at #4,592 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mossop surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 786 in 2016. That gives Mossop a modern rank of #7,024.

What does the Mossop surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a mossy or bog-covered area.

What does the Mossop map show?

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