Moulds
An occupational surname denoting someone who made molds or patterns for casting.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,028 Americans carry the last name Moulds. That puts it at #27,435 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.30 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 333,419 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Moulds 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
1.0K
1 in 333,419
Census rank
#27,435
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
879
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 879 bearers of the surname Moulds in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.30 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 27435th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Moulds, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.4%. The next largest groups are Black (8.8%) and Hispanic (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Moulds
The surname Moulds is of English origin, originating in the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "molde," meaning "earth" or "soil," suggesting that the name's earliest bearers may have been associated with agriculture, working as farmers or landholders.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a John le Mulde is mentioned. This early spelling variation of "Mulde" highlights the name's evolution over time.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name appeared in various records across England, with instances found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a Richard Mouldere is listed, and in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332, where a John Mulde is recorded.
The name Moulds may also have originated from place names, such as Moulton in Northamptonshire or Moulton in Lincolnshire. These place names derive from the Old English words "mol" (a hill or mound) and "tun" (an enclosure or settlement), suggesting that some early bearers of the name may have hailed from these locations.
Notable historical figures with the surname Moulds include Sir John Moulds (1566-1638), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire during the reign of King James I. Another prominent individual was Robert Moulds (1720-1785), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Adelphi Terrace.
In the 19th century, Thomas Moulds (1828-1902) was a British railway engineer and inventor, known for his contributions to the development of railway signaling systems. Additionally, Reverend John Moulds (1845-1923) was an English clergyman and author, best known for his work "The Church and the World" published in 1878.
Lastly, Edith Moulds (1892-1977) was a British artist and illustrator, renowned for her etchings and woodcut prints depicting rural landscapes and village scenes. Her works are held in various collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Moulds
Among Census respondents with the surname Moulds, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.4%. The next largest groups are Black (8.8%) and Hispanic (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Moulds 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 Moulds surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.4%
- Black or African American8.8%
- Hispanic or Latino1.4%
- Two or more races1.1%
- Unknown or suppressed0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Moulds 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 | #27,049 | #27,435 | -1.4% |
| Count | 842 | 879 | 4.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.31 | 0.30 | -3.2% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Moulds bearers went from 842 to 879 (+4.4% change). The surname moved down 386 positions in the national ranking, going from #27,049 to #27,435.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Moulds
FAQ
Moulds surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Moulds?
The surname Moulds holds position #27,435 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,028 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.30 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Moulds surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Moulds, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.4%. The next largest groups are Black (8.8%) and Hispanic (1.4%). 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.