Moseley
From a place name meaning "mouse wood" or "mouse clearing" in Old English.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 19,914 Americans carry the last name Moseley. That puts it at #2,112 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 5.81 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 17,212 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Moseley 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
20K
1 in 17,212
Census rank
#2,112
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
5.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
17K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 17,130 bearers of the surname Moseley in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 5.81 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2112th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Moseley, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.6%. The next largest groups are Black (17.1%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Moseley
The surname Moseley has its origins in England, tracing back to the 11th century. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Moseley, which is found in several counties across the country, including Worcestershire, Staffordshire, and Yorkshire. The name is believed to stem from the Old English words "mos" meaning "moss" and "leah" meaning "a meadow or clearing," suggesting that the name originated from a moss-covered meadow.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Museleie" in Worcestershire. This entry suggests that the name was already established in the region during the Norman Conquest. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, Moseley.
In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing this surname was Thomas de Moseley, a landowner in Staffordshire who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1230. Another early record is that of William de Moseley, a freeman of York in 1301, highlighting the name's presence in different parts of England.
During the 16th century, the Moseley family gained prominence in Lancashire, where they held the manor of Ancoats. Sir Oswald Moseley (1505-1572) was a respected member of this family and served as a Member of Parliament for Preston during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
In the 17th century, Sir Nicholas Moseley (1615-1672), born in Staffordshire, was a prominent lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of King Charles II. His son, Sir Edward Moseley (1650-1713), also followed in his footsteps and became a notable jurist.
Another noteworthy figure was Benjamin Moseley (1742-1819), an English surgeon and author who made significant contributions to the field of medicine. His works, such as "A Treatise on Tropical Diseases" and "A Treatise on Hydrophobia," were highly influential in their time.
In the 19th century, Henry Moseley (1801-1872), an English mathematician and engineer, gained recognition for his work on developing the concept of the least-squares method, which is widely used in statistical analysis today.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the surname Moseley throughout history, contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on the cultural and intellectual landscape of England and beyond.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Moseley
Among Census respondents with the surname Moseley, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.6%. The next largest groups are Black (17.1%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Moseley 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 Moseley surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White77.6%
- Black or African American17.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Two or more races1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Moseley 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 | #1,981 | #2,112 | -6.6% |
| Count | 16,736 | 17,130 | 2.4% |
| Per 100K | 6.20 | 5.81 | -6.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Moseley bearers went from 16,736 to 17,130 (+2.4% change). The surname moved down 131 positions in the national ranking, going from #1,981 to #2,112.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Moseley
FAQ
Moseley surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Moseley?
The surname Moseley holds position #2,112 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 19,914 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 5.81 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Moseley surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Moseley, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.6%. The next largest groups are Black (17.1%) and Hispanic (2.4%). 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.