NameCensus.

UK surname

Moul

A surname derived from the Old French word "moulin" meaning "mill," often referring to someone who worked at or lived near a mill.

In the 1881 census there were 160 people recorded with the Moul surname, ranking it #14,860 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 152, ranked #23,516, down from #14,860 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Asheldham, Dengie, Wimbish with Thunderley and Newchurch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight, Colchester and Barrow-in-Furness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moul is 241 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 5.0%.

1881 census count

160

Ranked #14,860

Modern count

152

2016, ranked #23,516

Peak year

1911

241 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Moul had 160 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,860 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016, ranked #23,516.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 241 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Moul surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moul surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Moul 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 147 #13,084
1861 historical 175 #13,409
1881 historical 160 #14,860
1891 historical 179 #16,198
1901 historical 218 #14,332
1911 historical 241 #13,229
1997 modern 180 #18,812
1998 modern 183 #19,106
1999 modern 186 #19,073
2000 modern 185 #19,118
2001 modern 176 #19,415
2002 modern 178 #19,671
2003 modern 156 #21,115
2004 modern 163 #20,685
2005 modern 161 #20,799
2006 modern 153 #21,643
2007 modern 170 #20,471
2008 modern 165 #21,056
2009 modern 171 #21,024
2010 modern 185 #20,453
2011 modern 179 #20,732
2012 modern 169 #21,437
2013 modern 169 #21,826
2014 modern 160 #22,824
2015 modern 157 #22,997
2016 modern 152 #23,516

Geography

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Where Mouls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Asheldham, Dengie, Wimbish with Thunderley, Newchurch, London parishes and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight, Colchester and Barrow-in-Furness. 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 Asheldham, Dengie Essex
2 Wimbish with Thunderley Essex
3 Newchurch Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 009 Isle of Wight
2 Isle of Wight 011 Isle of Wight
3 Isle of Wight 008 Isle of Wight
4 Colchester 021 Colchester
5 Barrow-in-Furness 003 Barrow-in-Furness

Forenames

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First names often paired with Moul

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Moul

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Moul surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Moul household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Moul is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Moul is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Moul falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Moul

The surname Moul has its origins in the German language, traced back to the Middle Ages when it first emerged in the regions of central and southern Germany. The name is derived from the Old German word "mul," which referred to a small hill or mound, suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near or on a small elevated landform.

One of the earliest known recordings of the name Moul can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the Duchy of Brunswick, dating back to the 13th century. In this record, a man named Henricus de Mule is mentioned, which is likely an early variation of the modern spelling Moul.

During the 15th century, the name Moul appeared in various municipal records and chronicles across various German states. Notable examples include Johannes Moul, a merchant from Nuremberg, who was documented in 1472, and Hildebrand Moul, a respected scholar and theologian from Leipzig, born in 1495.

As the name spread across Europe, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. In France, for instance, the name was adapted as Moule, while in the Netherlands, it took the form of Mollen or Moll. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name outside of Germany is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a landowner named Radulfus de Mola is listed among the tenants of the Earl of Chester.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Moul have achieved notable accomplishments. One such figure was Johann Moul (1516-1578), a prominent German architect and master builder who was responsible for the construction of several iconic buildings in Dresden and Leipzig. Another notable bearer of the name was Caterina Moul (1647-1713), an Italian painter and engraver known for her exquisite religious artworks.

In the 19th century, the name Moul gained prominence in the United States, with many German immigrants settling in Pennsylvania and other parts of the country. One notable American with the surname Moul was Jacob Moul (1832-1901), a Union Army veteran and prominent businessman from York, Pennsylvania.

Other individuals with the surname Moul who have left their mark on history include Robert Moul (1863-1941), a Scottish painter and etcher known for his depictions of rural life, and Heinrich Moul (1877-1945), a German architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the reconstruction of Berlin after World War II.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Moul families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moul 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. Middlesex leads with 37 Mouls recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.36x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 37 2.36x
Essex 31 10.00x
Devon 18 5.51x
Hampshire 11 3.42x
Kent 11 2.05x
Surrey 9 1.18x
Warwickshire 8 2.02x
Worcestershire 8 3.90x
Durham 5 1.07x
Staffordshire 5 0.94x
Leicestershire 4 2.30x
Suffolk 3 1.57x
Sussex 3 1.13x
Norfolk 2 0.83x
Northumberland 2 0.86x
Channel Islands 1 2.15x
Lincolnshire 1 0.40x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.47x
Oxfordshire 1 1.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 11 Mouls recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.12x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 11 16.12x
Bow London 10 50.03x
St Pancras London 10 7.91x
Bickleigh 9 2812.50x
Ryde 9 130.06x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 31.77x
Chislehurst 7 243.90x
Ashdon 6 1333.33x
Birmingham 6 4.55x
Prittlewell 6 139.53x
Purleigh 5 1086.96x
Ribbesford 5 292.40x
Walsall Foreign 5 18.26x
Bromley 4 48.96x
Broomfield 4 816.33x
Glen Parva 4 975.61x
Lambeth 4 2.92x
Brighton 3 5.62x
Gateshead 3 8.58x
Great Maplestead 3 1428.57x
Saffron Walden 3 91.46x
Walton On Thames 3 85.47x
Aston 2 1.83x
Berwick Hill 2 4000.00x
Halstead 2 55.25x
Lower Mitton 2 110.50x
Rotherhithe 2 10.31x
St Luke London 2 7.94x
Stranton 2 12.71x
Sudbury St Gregory 2 130.72x
Wood Dalling 2 769.23x
Alverstoke 1 8.58x
Bradwell 1 188.68x
Bromsgrove 1 14.49x
Caythorpe 1 208.33x
Hackney London 1 1.14x
Islington London 1 0.66x
Kensington London 1 1.15x
Mansfield 1 13.64x
Oxford St Giles 1 21.60x
Portsea 1 1.59x
Rose Ash 1 370.37x
Rushmere 1 238.10x
St John 1 112.36x
St Marylebone London 1 1.19x
West Ham 1 1.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 8
Eliza 5
Sarah 5
Emma 4
Ann 3
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Maria 2
Sophia 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Cordelia 1
Ellen 1
Evangeline 1
Georgina 1
Hanah 1
Harriet 1
Hetty 1
Katie 1
Laura 1
Lillie 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Phoebe 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Susanah 1
Susanna 1
Sushannah 1
Thedosha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 7
George 5
Joseph 5
Henry 4
James 4
Samuel 4
Barnabas 3
Frank 3
Thomas 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Edward 2
Wm. 2
Arthur 1
Ebenezer 1
Emanuel 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Henri 1
Jean 1
Jonner 1
Joshua 1
Othnell 1
Thos. 1
W. 1
W.Johnstone 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Moul surname: questions and answers

How common was the Moul surname in 1881?

In 1881, 160 people were recorded with the Moul surname. That placed it at #14,860 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Moul surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016. That gives Moul a modern rank of #23,516.

What does the Moul surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "moulin" meaning "mill," often referring to someone who worked at or lived near a mill.

What does the Moul map show?

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