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

Mote, 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 Mote surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mote in America

Mote is the 7697th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mote surname appeared 4,313 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Mote.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mote to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Mote

The surname MOTE has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "mot," meaning a small particle or speck of dust, suggesting that it may have originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who was perhaps untidy or unkempt.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Mot" or "Motte." This significant historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames in England during that era.

The name MOTE has also been associated with various place names across England, such as Mote Hill in Kent, Mote Park in Maidstone, and Mote Green in Hertfordshire. These place names may have influenced the surname's evolution or provided a geographical context for its origins.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname MOTE throughout history is Sir William Mote (1553-1639), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Kent in the early 17th century. Another prominent figure was John Mote (1711-1792), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Queen's College, Oxford.

In the literary realm, Benjamin Motte (1692-1738) was an English bookseller and publisher known for publishing the works of authors such as Daniel Defoe and Jonathan Swift. He played a significant role in the dissemination of literature during the 18th century.

The name MOTE has also been associated with military service. Major General Sir Andrew Mote (1766-1837) was a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was knighted for his bravery and leadership.

One cannot overlook the contribution of Mary Motte (1737-1815), an American Revolutionary War heroine known for her courage and resilience during the Siege of Fort Motte in South Carolina. Her actions earned her recognition as a patriot and an influential figure in the war's history.

These examples illustrate the historical significance and widespread presence of the surname MOTE across various fields and time periods, making it an intriguing subject for study and exploration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mote

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

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 Mote 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Mote has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Mote was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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