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Martin

Martin

Martin Mosley has been researching these histories for many years, and maintains this site for family members around the world.

The origins of a family name are complex. It is likely that our family name derives from locations 'Mos' and 'Leah', but the theories are almost limitless.

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Where do the Mosley Names Originate?

  • July 18, 2014

I remember my dad, when I asked about our family as a young boy, explaining that our family name meant ‘village idiot’ in the old English languages. I probably raised my eyebrows, but was content to accept this explanation.



The origins of the name are probably much more complex, and there are as many theories as there are branches of the family.

The generally accepted view is that the origins of the name are ancient and probably derived from old English place names. Many believe that Mos (peaty bog) and Leah (woodland clearing) are the most likely source. There are, however, many possibilities, including ‘Mus Leah’ meaning mouse wood; or another meaning Mul’s Island. There were also variations of the name derived from collaborators of William the Conquerer. The earliest known written record of the name is that of Suen de Moseleia. The record dates from 1195 and appears in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire. There is little consistency in spelling until very recently which makes researching the name a complex exercise.

The name was most frequently found in the Yorkshire and Lancashire areas of Northern England, and while it is now found widely throughout the world, it is likely that most families have their origins somewhere in these localities.

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Births for Mar 21, 2023

  • Leah Cooper 1809 (214 years ago)
  • Mary Lily MOSLEY 1891 (132 years ago)
  • Allen IBBERSON 1904 (119 years ago)
  • Maxence Joly 2014 (9 years ago)

Deaths for Mar 21, 2023

  • Francis BUNTING 1633 (390 years ago)
  • Mary WHITTINGTON 1717 (306 years ago)
  • William MOSLEY 1850 (173 years ago)
  • Walter MOSLEY 1918 (105 years ago)

Anniversaries for Mar 21, 2023

  • MOSLEY & Fosterd 1753 (270 years ago)
  • WARING & WHITTINGTON 1865 (158 years ago)
  • IBBERSON & JENKINSON 1889 (134 years ago)
  • Eames & WRAGG 1953 (70 years ago)

This site was developed and is maintained by Martin Mosley. Martin is interested in genealogy and in the history surrounding his ancestors and their communities. Contributions have been made by many others, some, but not all of whom are connected to the families mentioned in the site database.

If you have any information or documents which would help complete the picture of an individual or a family, an occupation, or a locality, please let us know. Your help will be acknowledged and will be treated with the same respect as the information you can already see in these pages.



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