NameCensus.

UK surname

Mostyn

A habitational name derived from a Welsh village in Flintshire, historically spelled as Mostyn.

In the 1881 census there were 226 people recorded with the Mostyn surname, ranking it #11,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 438, ranked #11,028, up from #11,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Ruthin Borough, Llanfwrog, Llanrhydd. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arbroath Cliffburn, Newcastle upon Tyne and Bridgend.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mostyn is 503 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.8%.

1881 census count

226

Ranked #11,889

Modern count

438

2016, ranked #11,028

Peak year

1998

503 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mostyn had 226 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 438 in 2016, ranked #11,028.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 368 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Mostyn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mostyn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mostyn 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 165 #12,053
1861 historical 91 #22,206
1881 historical 226 #11,889
1891 historical 271 #11,992
1901 historical 346 #10,516
1911 historical 368 #9,886
1997 modern 457 #9,957
1998 modern 503 #9,547
1999 modern 484 #9,917
2000 modern 471 #10,073
2001 modern 454 #10,162
2002 modern 465 #10,163
2003 modern 453 #10,241
2004 modern 457 #10,168
2005 modern 469 #9,892
2006 modern 446 #10,301
2007 modern 452 #10,298
2008 modern 441 #10,600
2009 modern 448 #10,719
2010 modern 458 #10,756
2011 modern 459 #10,607
2012 modern 439 #10,873
2013 modern 449 #10,850
2014 modern 445 #11,002
2015 modern 427 #11,292
2016 modern 438 #11,028

Geography

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Where Mostyns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Ruthin Borough, Llanfwrog, Llanrhydd and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Arbroath Cliffburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, Bridgend, East Devon and East Hertfordshire. 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 Manchester Lancashire
4 Ruthin Borough, Llanfwrog, Llanrhydd Denbighshire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Arbroath Cliffburn Angus
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 007 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Bridgend 017 Bridgend
4 East Devon 007 East Devon
5 East Hertfordshire 010 East Hertfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mostyn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mostyn

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Mostyn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Mostyn 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 are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mostyn 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

Mostyn 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

Mostyn 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 Mostyn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mostyn

The surname Mostyn has its origins in Wales, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Welsh place name Mostyn, which is found in Flintshire, located in the northern part of Wales. The name itself is thought to come from the Old Welsh words "mos" meaning "field" or "meadow" and "tyn" meaning "house" or "homestead," suggesting that the surname likely referred to someone who lived or owned land near a field or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mostyn can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book mentions a place called "Mostene" in the county of Cheshire, which is adjacent to Flintshire, indicating that the name was already in use during the 11th century.

The Mostyn family has a long and distinguished history in Wales, with many notable members over the centuries. One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was Sir Roger Mostyn, who lived in the 13th century and served as a Knight of the Shire for Flintshire. Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Mostyn (c. 1490-1558), who served as a Member of Parliament and was appointed as a Justice of the Peace for Flintshire during the reign of Henry VIII.

In the 17th century, Sir Roger Mostyn (1625-1689) played a significant role in the English Civil War, initially supporting the Royalist cause but later switching allegiance to the Parliamentarians. His son, Sir Thomas Mostyn (1651-1691), was also a notable figure, serving as a Member of Parliament and High Sheriff of Flintshire.

The Mostyn family's association with Flintshire is further reflected in the place name Mostyn Hall, which refers to their ancestral estate located in the town of Mostyn. The hall, which dates back to the 15th century, has been the family's primary residence for several centuries and remains an important historical landmark in the region.

Other notable individuals with the surname Mostyn include Lord Mostyn (1779-1831), a prominent British peer and Member of Parliament, and Sir Pyers Mostyn (1476-1539), a Welsh landowner and courtier who served as a Member of Parliament and High Sheriff of Flintshire during the reign of Henry VIII.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mostyn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mostyn 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 51 Mostyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.95x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 51 1.95x
Denbighshire 36 43.23x
Staffordshire 22 2.96x
Middlesex 17 0.77x
Montgomeryshire 13 25.73x
Sussex 13 3.50x
Flintshire 11 18.56x
Caernarfonshire 10 11.22x
Durham 8 1.22x
Cheshire 7 1.44x
Anglesey 6 15.36x
Essex 3 0.69x
Glamorgan 3 0.78x
Hertfordshire 3 1.97x
Kent 3 0.40x
Somerset 3 0.85x
Surrey 3 0.28x
Warwickshire 3 0.54x
Gloucestershire 2 0.46x
Inverness-shire 2 3.04x
Northumberland 2 0.61x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.72x
Lincolnshire 1 0.28x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.34x
Shropshire 1 0.53x
Yorkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Openshaw in Lancashire leads with 13 Mostyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 106.12x.

Place Total Index
Openshaw 13 106.12x
Stoke Upon Trent 12 15.21x
Ruthin 10 1176.47x
Bersham 7 197.18x
Brighton 7 9.33x
Harpurhey 7 192.84x
Wolstanton Chesterton 7 184.21x
Amlwch 6 163.04x
Llanfwrog 6 588.24x
Ruabon 6 52.40x
Whitford 6 195.44x
Abergele 5 208.33x
Eglwys Rhos 5 446.43x
Moughtrey 5 1315.79x
St Marylebone London 5 4.25x
Altrincham 4 47.06x
Ardwick 4 16.96x
Arundel 4 192.31x
Bangor 4 46.51x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 14.08x
Kerry 4 263.16x
Salford 4 5.20x
West Derby 4 5.23x
Broughton In Salford 3 12.54x
Broxbourne 3 99.67x
Charterhouse London 3 288.46x
Llanasa 3 145.63x
Midsomer Norton 3 89.82x
Montgomery 3 333.33x
Parr 3 32.05x
Withington 3 35.59x
Wolverhampton 3 5.24x
Avon Dassett 2 1000.00x
Bromley London 2 4.12x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 4.81x
Esh 2 41.93x
Gelligaer 2 22.81x
Hulme 2 3.66x
Monks Coppenhall 2 10.89x
Rochester St Margaret 2 25.22x
Toxteth Park 2 2.26x
Walton On Thames 2 40.57x
West Grinstead 2 178.57x
West Ham 2 2.08x
Westgate 2 9.85x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 4.91x
Basford 1 7.30x
Bow London 1 3.56x
Caerwys 1 163.93x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.92x
Darlington 1 3.95x
Frimley 1 32.68x
Fryerning 1 188.68x
Kensington London 1 0.82x
Kiltarlity 1 62.11x
Kirkdale 1 2.27x
Kirkhill 1 89.29x
Liverpool 1 0.63x
Llandudno 1 31.45x
Llanllwchaiarn 1 45.66x
Llanrhaiadr In Kinmerch 1 78.74x
Llansilin 1 71.94x
Mangotsfield 1 23.20x
Mold 1 18.59x
Princethorpe 1 434.78x
Radcliffe 1 7.93x
Sale 1 16.75x
St George Bloomsbury 1 7.91x
St George Hanover 1 3.48x
St George Martyr 1 26.88x
St Maryle Wigford 1 36.50x
St Michael Cambridge 1 243.90x
St Sepulchre London 1 30.96x
Stansty 1 108.70x
Stockton On Tees 1 3.16x
Swansea Town 1 3.18x
Warrington 1 3.22x
Woodchester 1 147.06x
Woolwich 1 3.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 10
Jane 7
Margaret 5
Alice 4
Frances 4
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Harriet 3
Amelia 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Georgina 2
Hannah 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Anmaria 1
Anna 1
Annastatia 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Barbara 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Cecilia 1
Charlotte 1
Clare 1
Clemmtina 1
Constantia 1
Emily 1
Essex 1
Esther 1
H. 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Katherine 1
Lucy 1
Susanna 1
Thresa 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
William 11
Edward 9
Thomas 9
George 6
Edwin 5
James 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Edwd. 2
Llewellyn 2
Owen 2
Price 2
Charles 1
David 1
Ellis 1
Emanuel 1
Evan 1
Francis 1
Hanks 1
Herbert 1
Hubert 1
Hugh 1
Llewelyn 1
Piers 1
Pyers 1
Ranulph 1
Roger 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Mostyn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mostyn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 226 people were recorded with the Mostyn surname. That placed it at #11,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mostyn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 438 in 2016. That gives Mostyn a modern rank of #11,028.

What does the Mostyn surname mean?

A habitational name derived from a Welsh village in Flintshire, historically spelled as Mostyn.

What does the Mostyn map show?

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