NameCensus.

UK surname

Moug

A surname of Scottish origin denoting someone who lived on a mound or hill.

In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Moug surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 150, ranked #23,724, up from #28,137 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Friockheim, Rother and Letham and Glamis.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moug is 151 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 284.6%.

1881 census count

39

Ranked #28,137

Modern count

150

2016, ranked #23,724

Peak year

2015

151 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Moug had 39 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,137 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016, ranked #23,724.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 44 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Moug surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moug surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Moug 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 24 #29,038
1861 historical 9 #32,724
1881 historical 39 #28,137
1891 historical 44 #30,838
1901 historical 35 #30,194
1911 historical 8 #32,903
1997 modern 118 #24,423
1998 modern 131 #23,495
1999 modern 122 #24,745
2000 modern 135 #23,250
2001 modern 121 #24,493
2002 modern 124 #24,616
2003 modern 121 #24,776
2004 modern 123 #24,679
2005 modern 137 #23,110
2006 modern 130 #24,053
2007 modern 142 #23,025
2008 modern 144 #23,037
2009 modern 144 #23,577
2010 modern 141 #24,460
2011 modern 140 #24,395
2012 modern 141 #24,258
2013 modern 146 #24,107
2014 modern 149 #23,969
2015 modern 151 #23,613
2016 modern 150 #23,724

Geography

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Where Mougs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Friockheim, Rother, Letham and Glamis, Largs Central and Cumbrae and Arbroath Harbour. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Friockheim Angus
2 Rother 002 Rother
3 Letham and Glamis Angus
4 Largs Central and Cumbrae North Ayrshire
5 Arbroath Harbour Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Moug

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Moug

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Moug surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Moug household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Moug is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Moug is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Moug falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Moug 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 Moug, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Moug

The surname MOUG is of Scottish origin, originating in the 12th century from the region of Moray in northeastern Scotland. The name is believed to derive from the Scottish Gaelic word "mog," meaning "servant" or "one who is humble." It is thought to have been a nickname or descriptive name given to someone who exhibited such qualities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MOUG surname can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish noblemen and landowners who were forced to swear allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Moge" in this record.

The MOUG name has also been found in various historical records throughout the centuries, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the 14th century and the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland from the 16th century.

In terms of notable individuals with the MOUG surname, one of the earliest was John Moug (c. 1550-1625), a Scottish clergyman and academic who served as the Principal of St. Leonard's College at the University of St. Andrews.

Another prominent figure was Robert Moug (1711-1782), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1752.

In the 19th century, William Moug (1805-1885) was a Scottish botanist who specialized in the study of mosses and lichens. He published several works on the subject, including The Bryologia Britannica, which became a seminal text in the field.

Moving into the 20th century, there was James Moug (1899-1978), a Scottish artist known for his landscapes and portraits. His works are held in various collections, including the National Galleries of Scotland.

Finally, one cannot overlook the legacy of Robert Moug (1923-2005), a prominent Scottish businessman and philanthropist. He founded the successful Moug Group of companies and donated generously to various charitable causes, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare.

While the MOUG surname is not among the most common in Scotland, its history and legacy have left an indelible mark across various fields, from academia and science to art and business.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Moug families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moug 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. Angus leads with 27 Mougs recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.62x.

County Total Index
Angus 27 76.62x
Kincardineshire 12 259.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liff Benvie in Angus leads with 9 Mougs recorded in 1881 and an index of 168.22x.

Place Total Index
Liff Benvie 9 168.22x
Forfar 8 418.85x
Glamis 8 3809.52x
Dunnottar 6 1818.18x
Fettercairn 4 2000.00x
Marykirk 2 1052.63x
Monikie 2 1111.11x

FAQ

Moug surname: questions and answers

How common was the Moug surname in 1881?

In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Moug surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Moug surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016. That gives Moug a modern rank of #23,724.

What does the Moug surname mean?

A surname of Scottish origin denoting someone who lived on a mound or hill.

What does the Moug map show?

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