NameCensus.

UK surname

Mousa

A surname likely originating from the Arabic name Musa (Moses).

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Mousa surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 161, ranked #22,606, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing, Sheffield and Middlesbrough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mousa is 161 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2200.0%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

161

2016, ranked #22,606

Peak year

2014

161 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mousa had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 161 in 2016, ranked #22,606.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Mousa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mousa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mousa 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
1861 historical 2 #34,135
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 26 #35,135
1998 modern 35 #34,344
1999 modern 43 #33,683
2000 modern 36 #34,317
2001 modern 40 #33,842
2002 modern 52 #33,110
2003 modern 63 #32,152
2004 modern 57 #32,968
2005 modern 68 #32,097
2006 modern 66 #32,629
2007 modern 67 #32,871
2008 modern 82 #31,597
2009 modern 102 #29,286
2010 modern 123 #26,728
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 133 #25,187
2013 modern 152 #23,438
2014 modern 161 #22,728
2015 modern 157 #22,997
2016 modern 161 #22,606

Geography

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Where Mousas 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 Ealing, Sheffield, Middlesbrough, Warwick and Brent. 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 Ealing 007 Ealing
2 Sheffield 018 Sheffield
3 Middlesbrough 001 Middlesbrough
4 Warwick 005 Warwick
5 Brent 025 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mousa

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mousa

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Mousa surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mousa household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Mousa is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mousa is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mousa 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 Mousa is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Mousa, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mousa

The surname Mousa has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Arab world. It is derived from the Arabic name Musa, which is the equivalent of the biblical name Moses. Musa is a popular name in Islamic cultures, as it references the revered prophet and leader Moses.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Mousa can be found in medieval Arab manuscripts from the 10th century. These documents mention individuals with the surname, indicating its longstanding presence in the region.

In the 12th century, the name Mousa appears in records from the Fatimid Caliphate, which ruled over parts of North Africa and the Middle East. These records suggest that individuals with this surname held various administrative and scholarly positions within the caliphate.

During the Ottoman Empire's reign, which spanned several centuries, the surname Mousa was prevalent across the vast territories under Ottoman control. This included regions in modern-day Turkey, the Levant, and parts of the Balkans.

One notable figure bearing the surname Mousa was Abu Bakr al-Mousa, a renowned Islamic scholar and mathematician who lived in the 9th century. His contributions to the field of algebra and his treatises on geometry were highly influential during the Golden Age of Islamic civilization.

Another prominent individual was Yahya ibn Mousa al-Nawawi, a Sunni Islamic scholar and jurist who lived in the 13th century. He authored several influential works on Islamic jurisprudence and hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad), which are still widely studied and referenced today.

In the 14th century, the name Mousa appeared in records from the Mamluk Sultanate, which ruled over Egypt, Syria, and parts of the Levant. These records mention individuals with the surname holding various positions, from soldiers and administrators to scholars and poets.

During the Ottoman period, one notable figure was Osman Mousa Pasha, a 17th-century Ottoman statesman and Grand Vizier (prime minister) who played a significant role in the administration of the empire.

In more recent times, the surname Mousa has been associated with several notable figures, including Sami Mousa, a 20th-century Palestinian writer and poet, and Ahmed Mousa, an Egyptian novelist and playwright who lived in the late 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mousa families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mousa 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. Kent leads with 6 Mousas recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.84x.

County Total Index
Kent 6 25.84x
Middlesex 1 1.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deptford St Paul in Kent leads with 6 Mousas recorded in 1881 and an index of 335.20x.

Place Total Index
Deptford St Paul 6 335.20x
Westminster St 1 400.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Mousa households.

FAQ

Mousa surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mousa surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Mousa surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mousa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 161 in 2016. That gives Mousa a modern rank of #22,606.

What does the Mousa surname mean?

A surname likely originating from the Arabic name Musa (Moses).

What does the Mousa map show?

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