NameCensus.

UK surname

Moth

A surname derived from the insect's name, possibly indicating an ancestor's occupation or characteristic.

In the 1881 census there were 389 people recorded with the Moth surname, ranking it #8,122 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 716, ranked #7,588, up from #8,122 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Basingstoke, Basing, Eastrop, Newnham, Nately Scures, Up Nately, Andwell, London parishes and Newchurch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, Reading and Havant.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moth is 765 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.1%.

1881 census count

389

Ranked #8,122

Modern count

716

2016, ranked #7,588

Peak year

1999

765 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Moth had 389 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,122 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 716 in 2016, ranked #7,588.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 567 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Moth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moth surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Moth 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 308 #7,478
1861 historical 289 #8,711
1881 historical 389 #8,122
1891 historical 464 #7,887
1901 historical 480 #8,301
1911 historical 567 #7,127
1997 modern 713 #7,150
1998 modern 737 #7,200
1999 modern 765 #7,031
2000 modern 762 #7,023
2001 modern 736 #7,084
2002 modern 730 #7,255
2003 modern 692 #7,449
2004 modern 704 #7,357
2005 modern 685 #7,480
2006 modern 701 #7,342
2007 modern 695 #7,467
2008 modern 675 #7,687
2009 modern 704 #7,608
2010 modern 727 #7,562
2011 modern 717 #7,557
2012 modern 706 #7,558
2013 modern 722 #7,554
2014 modern 726 #7,563
2015 modern 714 #7,606
2016 modern 716 #7,588

Geography

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Where Moths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Basingstoke, Basing, Eastrop, Newnham, Nately Scures, Up Nately, Andwell, London parishes, Newchurch and Worplesdon , Ash. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Manchester, Reading, Havant, Nottingham and Stroud. 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 Basingstoke, Basing, Eastrop, Newnham, Nately Scures, Up Nately, Andwell Hampshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Newchurch Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Worplesdon , Ash Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Manchester 002 Manchester
2 Reading 003 Reading
3 Havant 011 Havant
4 Nottingham 002 Nottingham
5 Stroud 006 Stroud

Forenames

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First names often paired with Moth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Moth

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Moth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Moth household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Moth 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

Moth 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

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

Meaning and origin of Moth

The surname MOTH has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged during the medieval period around the 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the German word "Motte," which means "moth" in English. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname or a descriptive name to someone who had some association with moths or the moth-related trade or profession.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MOTH surname can be found in the German city of Nuremberg in the year 1339, where it appears in a municipal record. The entry mentions a person named Hans Moth, who was a merchant dealing in textiles and fabrics. It is possible that the name was initially given to someone involved in the textile industry, perhaps due to the tendency of moths to infest and damage fabrics and clothing.

Another early reference to the MOTH surname can be found in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, located in the Franconian region of Germany. In a church record from 1412, a man named Johannes Moth is listed as a member of the local congregation. This suggests that the name had spread to different parts of Germany by the early 15th century.

As the MOTH surname grew more prevalent in Germany, it eventually made its way to other parts of Europe. In the 16th century, records show the presence of the name in the Netherlands, where it was spelled as "Mot" or "Motte." One notable figure was Jan Mot, a Dutch painter born in 1570 who specialized in still-life compositions featuring flowers and insects, including moths.

In the 17th century, the MOTH surname also appeared in England, likely brought over by German immigrants. One prominent individual was William Moth (1619-1697), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge from 1677 until his death.

Other notable individuals with the MOTH surname include:

1. Johann Friedrich Moth (1735-1804), a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of comets. 2. Elizabeth Moth (1697-1768), an English novelist and poet who wrote several works of fiction, including "The Amours of Philario and Olinda" (1737). 3. Johann Michael Moth (1768-1843), a German painter known for his religious and historical works, particularly his altarpieces in churches across Germany. 4. August Moth (1805-1888), a Danish architect and urban planner who played a crucial role in the development of Copenhagen's infrastructure and public buildings in the 19th century. 5. Franz Moth (1899-1978), a German-born American artist and illustrator who worked for various publications, including The New Yorker magazine.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Moth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moth 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. Hampshire leads with 156 Moths recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.06x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 156 20.06x
Surrey 93 5.03x
Middlesex 35 0.92x
Berkshire 21 7.37x
Staffordshire 20 1.56x
Sussex 12 1.88x
Warwickshire 10 1.04x
Essex 9 1.20x
Suffolk 7 1.51x
Huntingdonshire 5 6.64x
Oxfordshire 5 2.13x
Herefordshire 2 1.29x
Kent 2 0.15x
Lincolnshire 2 0.33x
Northumberland 2 0.35x
Bedfordshire 1 0.51x
Cornwall 1 0.23x
Cumberland 1 0.31x
Durham 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.38x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Royal Navy 1 2.21x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Frimley in Surrey leads with 46 Moths recorded in 1881 and an index of 872.87x.

Place Total Index
Frimley 46 872.87x
Northwood 43 388.09x
Portsea 23 15.09x
Battersea 15 10.74x
Farnborough 10 122.40x
Wednesbury 10 31.24x
East Woodhay 9 452.26x
Eversley 9 1011.24x
Kenilworth 9 166.98x
Lambeth 8 2.42x
Alverstoke 7 24.87x
Bexhill 7 219.44x
Burghclere 7 707.07x
Southampton St Michael 7 273.44x
Tipton 7 17.85x
Basingstoke 6 67.04x
Fressingfield 6 402.68x
Hampstead London 6 10.15x
Islington London 6 1.63x
Windlesham 6 172.41x
Bedhampton 5 543.48x
Brighton 5 3.87x
Henley On Thames 5 104.17x
Remenham 5 625.00x
Somersham 5 273.22x
Sunninghill 5 126.58x
West Ham 5 3.02x
Aldershot 4 15.36x
Ash Normandy 4 159.36x
Bow London 4 8.28x
Brading 4 38.68x
Clerkenwell London 4 4.47x
Southampton St Mary 4 8.18x
Wimbledon 4 19.27x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.82x
Newbury 3 32.89x
Ryde 3 17.95x
St Bartholomew By 3 1153.85x
Alton 2 34.13x
Bacton 2 1428.57x
Burton Upon Trent 2 6.67x
Camberwell 2 0.83x
Cove 2 196.08x
Manthorpe Cum Little 2 43.10x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 6.83x
Newnham 2 425.53x
Newport 2 47.39x
Odiham 2 58.65x
Old Windsor 2 60.61x
Sandhurst 2 36.23x
Seale 2 169.49x
St Anne Soho London 2 9.23x
St George Hanover 2 4.04x
Staines 2 33.28x
Warfield 2 77.22x
Aldenham 1 42.02x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.03x
Churchover 1 238.10x
Clapham 1 2.11x
Colchester St Botolph 1 15.70x
Cranham 1 185.19x
Easthampstead 1 65.36x
Effingham 1 131.58x
Egham 1 8.81x
Gnosall 1 32.36x
Hawley 1 68.03x
Hulme 1 1.06x
Kenwyn 1 8.90x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.25x
Margate St John Baptist 1 4.22x
Sawley In Ripon 1 208.33x
Sherborne St John 1 119.05x
St Cuthbert Within 1 26.46x
St Faith Winchester 1 27.55x
St Michael Cornhill 1 344.83x
Walthamstow 1 3.71x
Walton On Thames 1 11.78x
Westminster St John 1 2.16x
Woking 1 8.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 11
Emma 10
Ellen 9
Annie 8
Caroline 8
Sarah 8
Charlotte 7
Jane 7
Emily 6
Harriet 5
Louisa 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Eliza 4
Florence 4
Harriett 4
Ada 3
Edith 3
Maria 3
Anna 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Minnie 2
Miriam 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Carrie 1
Eliz 1
Elizabth 1
Elizth. 1
Emmaie 1
Ethel 1
F. 1
Gillian 1
Harriott 1
Janet 1
Kezia 1
Libby 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Lottie 1
Lucy 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 25
William 23
John 16
James 13
Charles 8
Henry 7
Thomas 7
Edward 6
Frank 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Harry 5
Samuel 5
Gilbert 4
Joseph 4
Walter 4
Daniel 3
Jonas 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Chas. 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Jonathan 2
Noah 2
Percy 2
Adolphus 1
Alberto 1
Caleb 1
Charlie 1
Cyrus 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Ellen 1
Emanuel 1
Fedrico 1
Francis 1
Fredick 1
Hezekiah 1
Joshua 1
Moses 1
Nicholas 1
Reubon 1
Richd. 1
Seymour 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Moth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Moth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 389 people were recorded with the Moth surname. That placed it at #8,122 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Moth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 716 in 2016. That gives Moth a modern rank of #7,588.

What does the Moth surname mean?

A surname derived from the insect's name, possibly indicating an ancestor's occupation or characteristic.

What does the Moth map show?

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