Find out how popular the last name Moshay is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Moshay.

Moshay, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Moshay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Moshay in America

Moshay is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Moshay surname appeared 101 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Moshay.

The history of the last name Moshay

The surname Moshay has its origins in the northern regions of France, dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "moschee," which referred to a mosque or a place of Islamic worship. This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who lived near mosques or had some connection to Islamic culture or architecture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Moshay can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Moschei." This entry indicates the presence of individuals bearing this surname in the region of Normandy during the Norman Conquest of England. It is possible that the name was brought to England by Norman settlers during this period.

In the 13th century, the surname Moshay appeared in various historical documents in the regions of Champagne and Picardy, where it was spelled as "Mochay" and "Mouchet." These variations in spelling likely emerged due to regional dialects and scribal errors over time.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Moshay. One of the earliest recorded was Jean Moshay (c. 1320-1387), a French politician and diplomat who served as a councilor to King Charles V of France. Another prominent figure was Marie Moshay (1450-1521), a nun and abbess of the Benedictine convent in Reims, known for her philanthropic work and dedication to the religious community.

In the 16th century, the Moshay family established roots in the town of Mouchet, located in the Auvergne region of central France. This connection led to the adoption of the surname "Mouchet-Moshay" by some branches of the family, which can be found in historical records from that period.

During the 17th century, a notable figure was Pierre Moshay (1610-1678), a French philosopher and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of geometry. His work influenced the development of calculus and was widely recognized by his contemporaries.

Another remarkable individual was Émilie Moshay (1785-1862), a French artist and painter known for her portraiture and landscapes. Her works were exhibited at the prestigious Salon de Paris and were highly acclaimed during her lifetime.

While the surname Moshay has its roots in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, its origins can be traced back to the northern regions of France, where it emerged as a distinctive surname with a rich historical tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Moshay

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Moshay.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Moshay was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Moshay was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Moshay, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!