NameCensus.

UK surname

Mounsey

A locational name derived from a place named Mounceaux in Normandy, France.

In the 1881 census there were 862 people recorded with the Mounsey surname, ranking it #4,387 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,045, ranked #5,584, down from #4,387 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bampton, Lancaster Borough and Dacre. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, Eden and Craven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mounsey is 1,203 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.2%.

1881 census count

862

Ranked #4,387

Modern count

1,045

2016, ranked #5,584

Peak year

1911

1,203 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mounsey had 862 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,387 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,045 in 2016, ranked #5,584.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,203 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Mounsey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mounsey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mounsey 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 566 #4,489
1861 historical 462 #5,621
1881 historical 862 #4,387
1891 historical 1,002 #4,139
1901 historical 1,162 #4,199
1911 historical 1,203 #3,909
1997 modern 1,103 #5,051
1998 modern 1,133 #5,123
1999 modern 1,167 #5,045
2000 modern 1,148 #5,081
2001 modern 1,115 #5,107
2002 modern 1,135 #5,145
2003 modern 1,084 #5,242
2004 modern 1,080 #5,275
2005 modern 1,074 #5,238
2006 modern 1,053 #5,325
2007 modern 1,059 #5,346
2008 modern 1,059 #5,387
2009 modern 1,075 #5,426
2010 modern 1,103 #5,420
2011 modern 1,069 #5,504
2012 modern 1,064 #5,438
2013 modern 1,071 #5,505
2014 modern 1,071 #5,537
2015 modern 1,059 #5,538
2016 modern 1,045 #5,584

Geography

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Where Mounseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bampton, Lancaster Borough, Dacre, Toxteth Park and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, Eden, Craven and Copeland. 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 Bampton Westmorland
2 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
3 Dacre Cumberland
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 003 Allerdale
2 Eden 002 Eden
3 Eden 004 Eden
4 Craven 003 Craven
5 Copeland 007 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mounsey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mounsey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mounsey, 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 Mounsey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mounsey 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mounsey 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

Mounsey is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mounsey

The surname Mounsey has its roots in the northern counties of England, particularly in Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland. It is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century from the Old English words "munt" and "hoegh," meaning "hill" and "ridge" respectively.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1199, where it appears as "Mundese." This variation suggests that the name may have originally been a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near a prominent hill or ridge.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a Richard de Mounceye is mentioned as residing in Northumberland. This is one of the earliest recorded instances of the name in its more modern spelling.

The Mounsey name is also linked to several place names in the region, such as Mounsey Farm in Alston, Cumbria, and Mounsey Castle, a former fortified dwelling near Penrith, Cumbria, which dates back to the 13th century.

One notable figure in the history of the Mounsey name is John Mounsey (1576-1638), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Derby and published several works on theology.

Another individual of note is William Mounsey (1683-1735), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Carlisle from 1722 to 1727.

In the 18th century, Richard Mounsey (1735-1807) was a prominent figure in Cumberland. He was a landowner and served as a Justice of the Peace for the county.

The Mounsey name also has a connection to the arts, with Thomas Mounsey (1790-1863), an English painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Mounsey name in America is that of John Mounsey, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and later settled in Maryland.

These examples illustrate the rich history and geographical spread of the Mounsey surname, which has its origins in the hills and ridges of northern England and has been carried by individuals of various professions and accomplishments throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mounsey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mounsey 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. Cumberland leads with 257 Mounseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.62x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 257 35.62x
Lancashire 223 2.24x
Westmorland 136 73.85x
Yorkshire 116 1.40x
Durham 63 2.53x
Surrey 12 0.29x
Northumberland 7 0.56x
Middlesex 6 0.07x
Norfolk 6 0.47x
Dumfriesshire 5 2.70x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.44x
Sussex 5 0.35x
Leicestershire 4 0.43x
Gloucestershire 2 0.12x
Hampshire 2 0.12x
Berkshire 1 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.20x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.19x
Denbighshire 1 0.32x
Hertfordshire 1 0.17x
Isle of Man 1 0.64x
Kent 1 0.04x
Midlothian 1 0.09x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x
Wiltshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 43 Mounseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.16x.

Place Total Index
Preston 43 16.16x
Penrith 42 157.60x
Bampton 22 1419.35x
North Bierley 21 46.84x
Darlington 20 20.78x
Asby 18 1267.61x
Kendal 16 47.46x
Bishopwearmouth 14 6.54x
Dacre 14 503.60x
Liverpool 14 2.32x
Guiseley 13 122.30x
Heeley 13 51.53x
Oughterside Allerby 13 902.78x
Cockermouth 12 79.00x
Walton 12 1061.95x
Everton 11 3.47x
Burley In Wharfdale 10 136.43x
Keswick 10 108.46x
Appleby St Lawrence 9 214.80x
Bishop Auckland 9 26.91x
Borrowdale 9 697.67x
Lorton 9 789.47x
Martindale 9 2195.12x
Seaton 9 106.89x
Ulverston 9 31.08x
Undermilbeck 9 148.27x
Goosnargh 8 248.45x
High Ireby 8 2580.65x
Little Bolton 8 6.26x
Otley 8 39.68x
Shipley 8 18.57x
Toxteth Park 8 2.38x
Tudhoe 8 36.68x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 3.22x
Blackburn 7 2.65x
Bradford 7 15.04x
Crosscanonby 7 29.34x
Ellel 7 136.45x
Great Strickland 7 864.20x
Kirkdale 7 4.19x
Sockbridge 7 1111.11x
Wigan 7 5.04x
Askham 6 408.16x
Caldewgate 6 15.18x
Croydon 6 2.65x
Fishwick 6 97.56x
Lancaster 6 10.14x
Melmerby 6 731.71x
Moss Side 6 11.47x
Newington 6 1.94x
Rydal Loughrigg 6 419.58x
St Cuthbert W O 6 17.06x
St Cuthbert Within 6 71.77x
Brampton 5 50.56x
Cleckheaton 5 16.35x
Eastbourne 5 7.69x
Egton Cum Newland 5 173.01x
Graystoke 5 390.63x
Harpurhey 5 36.23x
Heacham 5 174.22x
Holme Abbey 5 185.19x
Hulme 5 2.41x
Idle 5 12.99x
Ousby 5 714.29x
Poulton Barre 5 44.21x
Ravenstonedale 5 194.55x
Shelf 5 63.05x
Sowerby In Halifax 5 18.42x
West Derby 5 1.72x
Winscales 5 1666.67x
Workington 5 12.10x
Ambleside 4 70.05x
Applethwaite 4 72.86x
Arlecdon 4 20.84x
Armley 4 10.92x
Benwell 4 29.35x
Hayton Mealo 4 470.59x
Leicester St Margaret 4 1.77x
Lowther 4 296.30x
Scotforth 4 61.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 72
Elizabeth 37
Sarah 30
Jane 29
Margaret 22
Ann 14
Hannah 12
Agnes 11
Annie 10
Eleanor 9
Ellen 8
Isabella 8
Emma 7
Catherine 6
Fanny 6
Ada 5
Emily 5
Rebecca 5
Alice 4
Edith 4
Eliza 4
Frances 4
Grace 4
Margret 4
Martha 4
Anne 3
Dorothy 3
Helen 3
Lucy 3
M. 3
Rachel 3
Ruth 3
Amelia 2
Annis 2
Beatrice 2
Betty 2
Clara 2
Eliz. 2
Esther 2
Francis 2
Harriet 2
Isabel 2
Julia 2
Lizzie 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Susannah 2
Barbara 1
Eliz.Ann 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 79
William 64
Thomas 41
George 26
Joseph 25
James 23
Robert 21
Henry 13
Richard 11
Edward 7
Charles 6
Alfred 5
Fred 4
Stephen 4
Thos. 4
Tom 4
David 3
Frederick 3
Geo. 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Andrew 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
J. 2
Joshua 2
Lancelot 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Samuel 2
Christopher 1
Dawson 1
Douglas 1
Elizth. 1
Ernest 1
Ewart 1
Ezra 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
G. 1
Jackson 1
Jacob 1
Jasper 1
Jerimah 1
Jno. 1
Johnson 1

FAQ

Mounsey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mounsey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 862 people were recorded with the Mounsey surname. That placed it at #4,387 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mounsey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,045 in 2016. That gives Mounsey a modern rank of #5,584.

What does the Mounsey surname mean?

A locational name derived from a place named Mounceaux in Normandy, France.

What does the Mounsey map show?

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