Mol
A surname of Dutch origin, possibly derived from a toponymic name referring to a low-lying or marshy place.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 857 Americans carry the last name Mol. That puts it at #31,824 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.25 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 399,947 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mol surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
857
1 in 399,947
Census rank
#31,824
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
725
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 725 bearers of the surname Mol in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.25 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 31824th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mol, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.5%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (8.7%) and Hispanic (3.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mol
The surname Mol originated in the Netherlands during the Middle Ages, likely derived from the Dutch word "mol" meaning "mole" or "hill." It was a topographic name given to someone who lived near a small hill or mound.
Mol was first recorded in the Dutch province of Brabant in the 13th century, where it was initially spelled variations like "Molle" or "Mulle." The name appeared in various medieval records and charters from the region.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Arnoud van der Mol, a landowner from the town of Mol in Antwerp province, mentioned in a 1372 tax record. The town itself is named after the Dutch word for a mole or hill, suggesting the name's topographic origins.
In the 15th century, the surname Mol spread to other parts of the Low Countries, including present-day Belgium and the Netherlands. Variations like "Molle" and "Moelen" were also common during this time.
Notable historical figures with the surname Mol include Pieter Mol (1599-1661), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his still-life and genre works. Another was Jan Mol (1686-1732), a Dutch architect and sculptor who designed several buildings in Amsterdam.
In the 18th century, Hendrik Mol (1718-1788) was a prominent Dutch merchant and banker, while Cornelis Mol (1743-1805) was a Dutch naval officer who fought in the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War.
During the 19th century, the Mol surname was further disseminated across Europe and beyond through emigration. One example is Lambert Mol (1835-1917), a Dutch-born American artist and lithographer who worked in New York City.
Over time, the surname Mol has been widely distributed, with bearers found in countries like Germany, France, South Africa, and the United States, among others. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval Netherlands and the topographic feature that inspired the name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mol
Among Census respondents with the surname Mol, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.5%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (8.7%) and Hispanic (3.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Mol bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Mol surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander8.7%
- Hispanic or Latino3.2%
- Black or African American1.0%
- Two or more races0.7%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mol surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #33,169 | #31,824 | 4.1% |
| Count | 650 | 725 | 11.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.24 | 0.25 | 4.2% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mol bearers went from 650 to 725 (+11.5% change). The surname moved up 1,345 positions in the national ranking, going from #33,169 to #31,824.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mol
FAQ
Mol surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mol?
The surname Mol holds position #31,824 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 857 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.25 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mol surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mol, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.5%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (8.7%) and Hispanic (3.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.