NameCensus.

UK surname

Moyle

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Maolmhuidh," meaning "descendant of the devotee of Saint Muidh."

In the 1881 census there were 1,435 people recorded with the Moyle surname, ranking it #2,904 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,558, ranked #3,975, down from #2,904 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Redruth, Illogan and Wendron. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moyle is 1,671 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.6%.

1881 census count

1,435

Ranked #2,904

Modern count

1,558

2016, ranked #3,975

Peak year

1911

1,671 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Moyle had 1,435 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,904 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,558 in 2016, ranked #3,975.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,671 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Moyle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moyle surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Moyle 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 1,247 #2,293
1861 historical 1,123 #2,497
1881 historical 1,435 #2,904
1891 historical 1,364 #3,183
1901 historical 1,563 #3,299
1911 historical 1,671 #2,922
1997 modern 1,565 #3,771
1998 modern 1,623 #3,789
1999 modern 1,633 #3,797
2000 modern 1,608 #3,836
2001 modern 1,607 #3,761
2002 modern 1,640 #3,753
2003 modern 1,559 #3,865
2004 modern 1,565 #3,855
2005 modern 1,534 #3,876
2006 modern 1,531 #3,888
2007 modern 1,518 #3,956
2008 modern 1,523 #3,960
2009 modern 1,568 #3,948
2010 modern 1,598 #3,955
2011 modern 1,579 #3,957
2012 modern 1,530 #4,005
2013 modern 1,567 #3,986
2014 modern 1,574 #3,996
2015 modern 1,573 #3,958
2016 modern 1,558 #3,975

Geography

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Where Moyles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Redruth, Illogan, Wendron, Gwennap and Kenwyn, Tregavethan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Redruth Cornwall
2 Illogan Cornwall
3 Wendron Cornwall
4 Gwennap Cornwall
5 Kenwyn, Tregavethan Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 055 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 050 Cornwall
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 023 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Cornwall 059 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 061 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Moyle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Moyle

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Moyle 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

Moyle is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Moyle falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Moyle

The surname "MOYLE" originated in Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic word "moil" meaning "bald" or "bare". It likely referred to a person with a shaven or tonsured head, possibly a monk or clergyman.

This surname is found primarily in Counties Cork and Kerry in the southwest of Ireland, suggesting it may have originated in this region. Early spellings included "Moyll", "Moyl", and "Moile". The name is also found in the form "Moyles" or "Moile" in Irish records.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters from the 12th century, which mentions a "Maelsechlainn Ua Moile" who was a chief of the Ui Dunadhach in County Cork.

In the 16th century, the surname is found in the Fiants of the Irish Chancery Rolls, which lists several individuals with the name, such as John Moyle of Cork in 1571 and David Moyle of Kerry in 1586.

Notable individuals with the surname include Sir Walter Moyle (1672-1721), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Saltash; John Moyle (1788-1880), an English landscape painter; and Henry Moyle (1804-1883), an English clergyman and author.

Other historically significant figures include Sir Thomas Moyle (1490-1560), an English lawyer and member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII; and Sir Nathaniel Moyle (1608-1693), an English lawyer and politician who served as Attorney General during the reign of Charles II.

The surname "MOYLE" is deeply rooted in Irish history and has been found in various records dating back to the 12th century, reflecting its longstanding presence in Counties Cork and Kerry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Moyle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moyle 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. Cornwall leads with 828 Moyles recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.96x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 828 51.96x
Lancashire 94 0.56x
Durham 65 1.55x
Devon 46 1.57x
Glamorgan 46 1.88x
Middlesex 42 0.30x
Cumberland 33 2.72x
Hampshire 27 0.94x
Cheshire 26 0.84x
Herefordshire 26 4.50x
Worcestershire 26 1.41x
Shropshire 24 1.97x
Monmouthshire 22 2.16x
Kent 20 0.42x
Surrey 20 0.29x
Staffordshire 13 0.27x
Warwickshire 11 0.31x
Yorkshire 10 0.07x
Gloucestershire 9 0.33x
Northumberland 7 0.33x
Ayrshire 6 0.57x
Berkshire 6 0.57x
Caernarfonshire 6 1.05x
Derbyshire 5 0.23x
Isle of Man 5 1.91x
Sussex 5 0.21x
Denbighshire 4 0.75x
Somerset 4 0.18x
Bedfordshire 2 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.12x
Channel Islands 1 0.24x
Hertfordshire 1 0.10x
Midlothian 1 0.05x
Norfolk 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wendron in Cornwall leads with 304 Moyles recorded in 1881 and an index of 1373.70x.

Place Total Index
Wendron 304 1373.70x
Kenwyn 69 165.59x
Gwennap 50 166.33x
Kea 47 395.62x
Camborne 44 67.00x
Helston 44 265.54x
Constantine 37 398.71x
Redruth 33 73.20x
Illogan 30 71.11x
St Stithians 23 261.96x
Breage 21 144.33x
Crowan 21 166.40x
Pennington In Ulverston 21 252.71x
Leominster 18 75.35x
Falmouth 16 28.36x
Millom 16 43.08x
Ystradyfodwg 14 6.51x
Bishop Auckland 11 19.58x
Chorlton On Medlock 11 4.15x
Wingate 11 38.31x
Christchurch 10 15.98x
Conside Knitsley 10 30.71x
Llanover 10 28.77x
Rowley Regis 10 7.55x
Tavistock 10 29.96x
Windle 10 10.64x
Egremont 9 31.14x
Hackney London 9 1.14x
Hampton Bickley 9 249.31x
Folkestone 8 8.59x
Islington London 8 0.59x
Scilly Islands St Mary 8 128.62x
St Cleer 8 57.89x
St Gluvias Penryn 8 62.65x
Arlecdon 7 21.72x
Church 7 29.67x
Culmington 7 261.19x
Davidstow 7 355.33x
Elswick 7 4.19x
Evesham St Lawrence 7 71.65x
Gunwalloe 7 804.60x
Iveston 7 36.29x
Tormoham 7 5.65x
Birkenhead 6 2.42x
Birmingham 6 0.51x
Clifton 6 4.30x
Clun 6 69.52x
Lewisham 6 2.34x
Manchester 6 0.80x
Merthyr Tydfil 6 2.55x
Old Cumnock 6 25.58x
Plymouth Charles The 6 4.65x
South Stoneham 6 9.59x
Stoke Damerel 6 2.93x
Throston 6 74.63x
Aberdare 5 2.97x
Cardiff St John 5 6.25x
Coundon 5 29.45x
German 5 35.06x
Kidderminster Borough 5 4.65x
Llanengan 5 73.10x
Llanfoist 5 70.92x
Monkwearmouth 5 12.48x
Newington 5 0.96x
Newton 5 3.88x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 2.22x
Shifnal 5 15.14x
Sithney 5 31.06x
Sopley 5 125.94x
St George In East 5 5.22x
West Derby 5 1.02x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 3.18x
Beckenham 4 6.37x
Church Coppenhall 4 28.80x
Ipsley 4 61.44x
Lambeth 4 0.33x
Newington 4 10.41x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 1.41x
St Agnes 4 17.92x
Stoke Prior 4 152.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 120
Elizabeth 89
Jane 56
Eliza 37
Ann 29
Grace 25
Sarah 21
Emily 19
Annie 18
Caroline 17
Margaret 17
Catherine 16
Harriet 14
Emma 13
Edith 12
Martha 12
Susan 12
Ellen 11
Louisa 10
Elizth. 9
Fanny 9
Alice 8
Julia 8
Amelia 7
Frances 7
Laura 7
Hannah 6
Lavinia 6
Maria 6
Matilda 6
Clara 5
Florence 5
Bessie 4
Christian 4
Elizebeth 4
Agnes 3
Eleanor 3
Lilly 3
Minnie 3
Sophia 3
Cecilia 2
Francis 2
Henrietta 2
Ida 2
Lillie 2
Lily 2
Lizzie 2
Loveday 2
Lydia 2
Margaretta 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 107
William 92
James 44
Thomas 42
Richard 33
Edward 25
George 25
Joseph 20
Samuel 20
Henry 19
Stephen 14
Simon 11
Walter 11
Alfred 10
Edwin 9
Peter 9
Matthew 8
Charles 7
Arthur 6
Francis 6
Frederick 6
Albert 5
David 5
Nicholas 5
Bennet 4
Bennett 4
Edwd. 3
Isaac 3
Josiah 3
Robert 3
Willm. 3
Allan 2
Edmund 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Michael 2
Paul 2
Philip 2
Solomon 2
Vyvyan 2
W. 2
Wm. 2
Earnest 1
Geo.Hy.Wm. 1
Gered 1
Herbert 1
Israel 1
Nichole 1
Ocathiah 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Moyle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Moyle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,435 people were recorded with the Moyle surname. That placed it at #2,904 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Moyle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,558 in 2016. That gives Moyle a modern rank of #3,975.

What does the Moyle surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Maolmhuidh," meaning "descendant of the devotee of Saint Muidh."

What does the Moyle map show?

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