NameCensus.

UK surname

Mountjoy

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "hill of joy or rejoicing".

In the 1881 census there were 340 people recorded with the Mountjoy surname, ranking it #8,934 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 496, ranked #10,038, down from #8,934 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mountjoy is 539 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.9%.

1881 census count

340

Ranked #8,934

Modern count

496

2016, ranked #10,038

Peak year

1998

539 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mountjoy had 340 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,934 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 496 in 2016, ranked #10,038.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 380 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mountjoy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mountjoy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mountjoy 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 324 #7,179
1861 historical 242 #10,154
1881 historical 340 #8,934
1891 historical 342 #10,023
1901 historical 380 #9,823
1911 historical 349 #10,282
1997 modern 510 #9,172
1998 modern 539 #9,065
1999 modern 531 #9,219
2000 modern 506 #9,541
2001 modern 491 #9,604
2002 modern 493 #9,728
2003 modern 486 #9,688
2004 modern 478 #9,823
2005 modern 463 #9,989
2006 modern 457 #10,127
2007 modern 456 #10,221
2008 modern 468 #10,134
2009 modern 487 #10,059
2010 modern 513 #9,853
2011 modern 511 #9,792
2012 modern 488 #10,049
2013 modern 503 #9,979
2014 modern 515 #9,872
2015 modern 507 #9,906
2016 modern 496 #10,038

Geography

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Where Mountjoys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Bideford and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Malvern Hills and Bridgend. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
4 Bideford Devon
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 015 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Blaenau Gwent 009 Blaenau Gwent
3 Caerphilly 007 Caerphilly
4 Malvern Hills 002 Malvern Hills
5 Bridgend 014 Bridgend

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mountjoy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mountjoy

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Mountjoy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mountjoy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mountjoy is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Mountjoy 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

Mountjoy falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mountjoy

The surname Mountjoy has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name "Mount Joy" or "Montjoie," which was likely a geographical feature or a settlement named after a distinctive hillock or mound.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

The name Mountjoy may have its roots in the Old French phrase "mont joie," which translates to "mount of joy" or "joyful mound." This phrase could have been used to describe a prominent hillock or landmark that was a source of joy or celebration for the local community.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Mountjoy was Sir Roger Mountjoy, a knight who served during the reign of King Edward I. He was involved in military campaigns in Scotland and Wales, and his name appears in historical records from that period.

Another prominent individual with the surname Mountjoy was Walter Mountjoy, a 14th-century English landowner and Member of Parliament. He served as a knight of the shire for Herefordshire and held various estates in the region.

In the 15th century, the name Mountjoy was associated with a family of landed gentry in Derbyshire. Sir William Mountjoy, born around 1450, was a member of this family and held significant estates in the area.

During the 16th century, a notable figure was James Mountjoy, a merchant and alderman in the city of London. He was involved in trade with the Netherlands and played an influential role in the city's affairs during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, George Mountjoy, born in 1619, was a prominent English Puritan minister and author. He wrote several religious works and served as a chaplain to Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the surname Mountjoy, demonstrating its long-standing presence in England and its association with various social and professional spheres.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mountjoy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mountjoy 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. Devon leads with 89 Mountjoys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.85x.

County Total Index
Devon 89 12.85x
Gloucestershire 64 9.81x
Middlesex 55 1.65x
Wiltshire 20 6.80x
Glamorgan 16 2.76x
Somerset 16 2.99x
Surrey 13 0.80x
Kent 11 0.97x
Hampshire 9 1.32x
Cornwall 8 2.12x
Lancashire 8 0.20x
Monmouthshire 8 3.33x
Durham 5 0.51x
Suffolk 5 1.23x
Warwickshire 5 0.60x
Staffordshire 3 0.27x
Northamptonshire 2 0.64x
Sussex 2 0.36x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.71x
Herefordshire 1 0.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westbury On Severn East in Gloucestershire leads with 33 Mountjoys recorded in 1881 and an index of 223.73x.

Place Total Index
Westbury On Severn East 33 223.73x
Bideford 18 242.59x
Islington London 18 5.58x
Pilton 11 480.35x
Bristol St James St Paul 10 45.98x
Plymouth St Andrew 10 18.75x
Chatham 8 25.62x
Swindon 8 35.06x
Trevethin 8 35.23x
Westleigh 8 1428.57x
Eglwysilan 7 69.65x
Portsea 7 5.24x
Bow London 6 14.17x
Midsomer Norton 6 119.05x
Newnham 6 357.14x
Plymouth Charles The 6 19.67x
St Giles Cripplegate 6 135.75x
Aberdare 5 12.58x
Clifton 5 15.16x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 11.67x
Ipswich St Helen 5 104.17x
South Molton 5 131.58x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 7.47x
Bermondsey 4 4.04x
Birmingham 4 1.43x
Carnforth 4 184.33x
Ealing 4 13.45x
Hartland 4 185.19x
Kilkhampton 4 360.36x
Stoke Damerel 4 8.25x
Sutcombe 4 851.06x
Bromley London 3 4.10x
Calne 3 49.51x
Cardiff St Mary 3 9.40x
Clevedon 3 53.86x
Marhamchurch 3 491.80x
Melksham 3 58.71x
North Petherwyn 3 306.12x
Ratcliffe London 3 16.33x
South Hamlet 3 74.26x
St Pancras London 3 1.12x
Tavistock 3 38.02x
Awre 2 149.25x
Barnstaple 2 18.40x
Bedminster 2 3.98x
Bristol St George 2 6.63x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.55x
Eastbourne 2 7.75x
Everton 2 1.59x
Heanton Punchardon 2 392.16x
Kensington London 2 1.08x
Kington Langley 2 307.69x
Peterborough Minster Close 2 625.00x
Pewsham 2 465.12x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 2 42.46x
Tiverton 2 16.76x
Topsham 2 61.16x
Bathwick 1 16.86x
Bradford On Avon 1 10.62x
Buckland Brewer 1 119.05x
Carisbrooke 1 10.56x
Charlton Kings 1 22.17x
Chelsea London 1 1.00x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.14x
George Nympton 1 454.55x
Hackney London 1 0.54x
Harborne 1 2.78x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.57x
Newington 1 0.81x
Pembrey 1 15.50x
Roath 1 3.80x
Rugby 1 8.81x
St George Bloomsbury 1 5.24x
Swainswick 1 138.89x
Taunton St James 1 12.80x
Trull 1 91.74x
Walcot 1 3.51x
Walmer 1 20.28x
Westminster St James 1 2.92x
Withington 1 7.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 19
Sarah 12
Alice 9
Ann 9
Eliza 8
Ellen 7
Fanny 7
Jane 5
Annie 4
Emma 4
Louisa 4
Lucy 4
Rose 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Eleanor 3
Emily 3
Matilda 3
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Evelyn 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Maria 2
Rhoda 2
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Charlot 1
Christina 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Elmira 1
Ester 1
Eva 1
Hanah 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Jessica 1
Jessie 1
Joice 1
Joyce 1
Lillian 1
Lillie 1
Lilly 1
Thmosine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
George 18
John 15
James 12
Charles 7
Henry 6
Edward 5
Hugh 5
Samuel 5
Frank 4
Richard 4
Nicholas 3
Thomas 3
Alfred 2
Joseph 2
Tom 2
Albert 1
Allen 1
Anthony 1
C. 1
Edmund 1
Elijah 1
Elirmington 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Freddy 1
Fredk. 1
Jno. 1
Josh. 1
Reuhben 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
Tos. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Mountjoy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mountjoy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 340 people were recorded with the Mountjoy surname. That placed it at #8,934 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mountjoy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 496 in 2016. That gives Mountjoy a modern rank of #10,038.

What does the Mountjoy surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "hill of joy or rejoicing".

What does the Mountjoy map show?

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