NameCensus.

UK surname

Mousley

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "mossy woodland clearing."

In the 1881 census there were 406 people recorded with the Mousley surname, ranking it #7,880 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 732, ranked #7,440, up from #7,880 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tamworth, London parishes and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Amber Valley, Carmarthenshire and Melton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mousley is 741 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 80.3%.

1881 census count

406

Ranked #7,880

Modern count

732

2016, ranked #7,440

Peak year

2013

741 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mousley had 406 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,880 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 732 in 2016, ranked #7,440.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 581 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mousley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mousley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mousley 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 329 #7,079
1861 historical 209 #11,596
1881 historical 406 #7,880
1891 historical 396 #8,945
1901 historical 580 #7,253
1911 historical 581 #7,005
1997 modern 685 #7,364
1998 modern 718 #7,326
1999 modern 727 #7,316
2000 modern 712 #7,401
2001 modern 710 #7,286
2002 modern 729 #7,265
2003 modern 708 #7,309
2004 modern 701 #7,391
2005 modern 695 #7,392
2006 modern 696 #7,386
2007 modern 705 #7,381
2008 modern 710 #7,396
2009 modern 714 #7,527
2010 modern 710 #7,700
2011 modern 711 #7,606
2012 modern 718 #7,469
2013 modern 741 #7,417
2014 modern 736 #7,498
2015 modern 736 #7,429
2016 modern 732 #7,440

Geography

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Where Mousleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tamworth, London parishes, St Werburgh and Heanor. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Amber Valley, Carmarthenshire, Melton, Derbyshire Dales and Cornwall. 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 Tamworth Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Werburgh Derbyshire
4 Heanor Nottinghamshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Amber Valley 017 Amber Valley
2 Carmarthenshire 027 Carmarthenshire
3 Melton 005 Melton
4 Derbyshire Dales 010 Derbyshire Dales
5 Cornwall 017 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mousley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mousley

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Mousley 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

Mousley 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mousley

The surname Mousley is believed to have originated in England, derived from the Old English words "mus" meaning mouse and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing. This suggests that the name may have been used to describe someone who lived near a meadow frequented by mice.

The earliest known records of the name date back to the 13th century, where it appeared in various forms such as "Musly" and "Mouseley" in various county records and tax rolls. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire during this time period.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301, which mentions a "Johannes de Mouseley." This suggests that the name had already been established in the region by the early 14th century.

In the 15th century, the name appears in the form "Mousley" in the Hearth Tax Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1436, indicating a connection to the village of Mousley, which is believed to have been named after the surname itself.

Notable individuals with the surname Mousley throughout history include:

1. Sir William Mousley (c. 1560 - 1625), an English merchant and member of the East India Company, who played a significant role in establishing trade relations with India.

2. John Mousley (1778 - 1856), a British botanist and horticulturist, who is credited with introducing several plant species to Europe.

3. Elizabeth Mousley (1843 - 1919), an English philanthropist and social reformer, who founded several orphanages and schools in London.

4. Henry Mousley (1867 - 1942), a British geologist and paleontologist, who made significant contributions to the study of fossil mollusks.

5. Robert Mousley (1915 - 1997), an English author and journalist, known for his works on World War II and his coverage of the Nuremberg Trials.

While the name has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, through immigration and migration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mousley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mousley 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. Warwickshire leads with 101 Mousleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.11x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 101 10.11x
Derbyshire 63 10.16x
Staffordshire 63 4.71x
Middlesex 35 0.88x
Cheshire 30 3.43x
Kent 24 1.78x
Surrey 17 0.88x
Worcestershire 16 3.09x
Hampshire 8 0.99x
Lancashire 7 0.15x
Gloucestershire 6 0.77x
Lincolnshire 6 0.95x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.12x
Yorkshire 6 0.15x
Leicestershire 5 1.14x
Pembrokeshire 5 3.97x
Northumberland 3 0.51x
Shropshire 2 0.58x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.42x
Norfolk 1 0.16x
Sussex 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 51 Mousleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.32x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 51 15.32x
Stafford St Mary 16 84.57x
Derby St Werburgh 15 41.90x
Aston 13 4.73x
Islington London 13 3.39x
Heanor 11 118.66x
Redditch 11 104.86x
Newborough 10 1136.36x
Hoo 9 502.79x
Rushton 9 1956.52x
Clifton Campville 8 761.90x
Deptford St Paul 8 7.68x
Nuneaton 8 69.14x
Rocester 8 481.93x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 10.04x
Stratfieldsaye 8 1025.64x
Church Gresley 7 70.99x
Doveridge 7 744.68x
Gainsborough 6 40.19x
Handsworth 6 18.21x
Kensington London 6 2.73x
Austrey 5 1020.41x
Bristol St James In 5 43.78x
Bromley London 5 5.74x
Delamere 5 632.91x
Eaton In Nantwich 5 793.65x
Feckenham 5 84.46x
Hampstead London 5 8.11x
Leamington Priors 5 20.35x
St Petrox 5 3125.00x
Sutton Coldfield 5 47.62x
Tarporley 5 273.22x
Camberwell 4 1.58x
Fewston 4 909.09x
Lambeth 4 1.16x
Litchurch 4 16.03x
Long Eaton 4 48.90x
Macclesfield 4 10.29x
Nuthall 4 200.00x
Polesworth 4 84.39x
Snitterfield 4 363.64x
West Bromwich 4 5.23x
Allestree 3 379.75x
Bromley 3 14.57x
Edgbaston 3 9.69x
Greenwich 3 4.76x
Lullington 3 297.03x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 8.53x
Preston 3 2.39x
Seals 3 193.55x
Winshill 3 75.95x
Castle Donnington 2 54.95x
Everton 2 1.34x
Hooton 2 909.09x
No Mans Heath 2 2222.22x
North Meols 2 4.35x
St Marylebone London 2 0.95x
St Pancras London 2 0.63x
Tamworth 2 27.97x
Wetton 2 454.55x
Whitchurch 2 30.12x
Atherstone 1 19.61x
Aylesbury 1 9.43x
Bridlington 1 11.14x
Bulwell 1 8.61x
Burton Extra 1 13.05x
Chilcote 1 769.23x
Clifton 1 2.55x
Coppenhall Dunston 1 200.00x
Derby St Peter 1 5.06x
Etwall 1 140.85x
Harborne 1 2.33x
Lichfield St Michael 1 23.81x
Newington 1 0.68x
Otham 1 196.08x
Somersall Herbert 1 666.67x
Spondon 1 41.84x
St George In East 1 3.71x
Walton On Trent 1 166.67x
Wigginton 1 88.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 14
Emma 9
Ann 8
Ellen 7
Annie 6
Emily 6
Hannah 6
Alice 5
Eliza 5
Jane 5
Ada 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Lucy 4
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Lydia 3
Martha 3
Rebecca 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Ruth 2
Thirza 2
Beatrice 1
Bethiah 1
Bitsey 1
Carrie 1
Elisabeth 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Kezia 1
Leah 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Twitta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 20
Thomas 17
George 16
Joseph 11
Charles 9
James 9
Edward 6
Henry 6
Walter 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Frederick 4
Harry 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Ernest 2
Robert 2
Aden 1
Amos 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Edgar 1
Edwd. 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Hearnest 1
Herbert 1
Horatio 1
Hugh 1
Louis 1
Michael 1
Michl. 1
Nixon 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Redophus 1
Roland 1
Ronald 1
T.T. 1
Willm. 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Mousley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mousley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 406 people were recorded with the Mousley surname. That placed it at #7,880 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mousley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 732 in 2016. That gives Mousley a modern rank of #7,440.

What does the Mousley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "mossy woodland clearing."

What does the Mousley map show?

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