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

Moxie, 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 Moxie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Moxie in America

Moxie is the 126018th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Moxie surname appeared 136 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 Moxie.

We can also compare 2010 data for Moxie 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 Moxie

The surname Moxie originated in Scotland, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Scottish surname Moxham or Moxon, which were locational names referring to someone from a place called Moxham or Moxon. These place names are thought to have come from the Old English words "moxa" meaning "boggy ground" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Moxie can be found in the Scottish parish records from the late 16th century, where it was spelled as "Moxham" or "Moxon." The name was particularly prevalent in the Scottish Lowlands and the Borders region during this period.

In the 17th century, the name began to spread beyond Scotland as Scottish families migrated to other parts of the British Isles and the colonies. One notable bearer of the name was John Moxie, a Scottish settler who arrived in Virginia in the 1630s and established a plantation near the James River.

By the 18th century, the spelling of the name had evolved to its modern form of "Moxie." This is evident in records such as the 1790 census of the United States, which lists several Moxie families living in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina.

One of the earliest notable figures with the surname Moxie was William Moxie (1744-1821), a Scottish-born merchant who settled in Nova Scotia, Canada. He played a significant role in the development of the town of Pictou and was involved in the timber trade.

Another prominent individual with the Moxie surname was Robert Moxie (1795-1868), a Scottish-born businessman who immigrated to the United States in the early 19th century. He established a successful import-export business in New York City and was known for his philanthropy, supporting various educational and religious institutions.

In the 19th century, the name Moxie gained broader recognition due to the popularity of the Moxie soft drink, created by Dr. Augustin Thompson in 1876. The name "Moxie" was chosen for its association with energy and vigor, and the product became a regional favorite in New England.

Other notable individuals with the Moxie surname include James Moxie (1826-1901), a Scottish-born engineer who contributed to the development of early railroads in the United States, and Mary Moxie (1852-1928), an American educator and advocate for women's rights.

Overall, the surname Moxie has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. Over time, the name spread across the British Isles and beyond, carried by Scottish immigrants and gaining recognition through various notable figures and cultural references.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Moxie

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

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

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

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