UK surname
Derived from the Old English word "mot," meaning a moat or ditch, likely referring to someone who lived near one.
In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Moton surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #32,243 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moton is 103 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.0%.
1881 census count
10
Ranked #32,243
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1891
103 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Moton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Moton surname density by area, 1891 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 | 20 | #29,743 |
| 1861 | historical | 95 | #21,768 |
| 1881 | historical | 10 | #32,243 |
| 1891 | historical | 103 | #23,558 |
| 1901 | historical | 37 | #30,009 |
| 1911 | historical | 24 | #30,800 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 8 | #37,806 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Eccles, Doddington and Brighton. 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 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a | Essex |
| 3 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 4 | Doddington | Cambridgeshire |
| 5 | Brighton | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Moton 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 Moton, 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 Moton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Moton 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, Moton 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 Moton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Moton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Moton originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "mote," meaning a small hill or mound. This suggests that the name may have been used to identify someone who lived near a motte-and-bailey castle or on a small hill.
In the 12th century, the name Moton appears in various records and manuscripts across northern France, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Picardy. One of the earliest recorded instances is found in the Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Bertin, a collection of charters from the Abbey of Saint-Bertin in Saint-Omer, which mentions a "Robertus de Moton" in 1174.
The Moton surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that some individuals with this surname may have accompanied the Norman invaders during the conquest of England in 1066.
Over the centuries, the name Moton has undergone various spelling variations, such as Motten, Motton, and Mottone. These variations can often be traced to different regional dialects or scribal errors in historical records.
Notable individuals with the surname Moton include:
1. Jean Moton (c. 1470-1522), a French composer and singer during the Renaissance era. 2. Edmé Moton (1622-1693), a French churchman who served as the Bishop of Bayeux from 1676 until his death. 3. Clement Moton (c. 1590-1659), a French lawyer and writer who authored several works on legal matters. 4. Jacques Moton (1618-1693), a French Jesuit missionary who traveled to New France and worked with the Huron people. 5. Marie-Anne Moton (1737-1819), a French noblewoman and courtier who served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Marie Antoinette.
While the surname Moton may have originated from a specific geographic location, it has since spread across various regions and countries, primarily through migration and intermarriage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moton 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. Lancashire leads with 2 Motons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.92x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 2 | 1.92x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 22.03x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 15.20x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 5.57x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 1.14x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 8.47x |
| Surrey | 1 | 2.34x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 4.52x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 2 Motons recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.74x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester | 2 | 42.74x |
| Aston | 1 | 16.42x |
| Draycot Moor | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Luton | 1 | 126.58x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 32.68x |
| Portsea | 1 | 28.41x |
| St George In East | 1 | 166.67x |
| Streatham | 1 | 153.85x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Moton 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 Moton 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 Moton households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Chaplain Of Guild Chapel Stratford On Avon | 1 |
| Corn Dealer | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| General Servant (Dom) | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Lace Dresser | 1 |
| Net Maker | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Moton surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Moton a modern rank of #37,829.
Derived from the Old English word "mot," meaning a moat or ditch, likely referring to someone who lived near one.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Moton 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.