Surname Mo - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Mo: What does the surname Mo mean?
The surname Mo originates from various cultures with different meanings. In Scandinavian countries, Mo is a habitational name denoting someone who lived near a sandy heath or moor. It is derived from the Old Norse word "mór," meaning sand or gravel. In China, the name Mo is used both as a first and a last name and means "do not" or "nothing." It can also mean "ink" in some regions. In Ireland, Mo could be a reduced form of the Gaelic surname Ó Mocháin, meaning a descendant of Mochán, a personal name from a diminutive of 'moch', meaning early or timely. Additionally, Mo is a common surname among the Ibibio people in Nigeria. Therefore, the interpretation of the surname Mo can largely differ based on geographical and cultural context.
Order DNA origin analysisMo: Where does the name Mo come from?
The last name MO is most commonly seen in East and Southeast Asia, particularly in China, Korea, and Japan. The many variations of the surname such as 牟, 毛, and 莫 across these countries are all pronunciations of the same character (meaning “grass”). In the United States, the MO surname is present in communities of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese immigrants, as well as those of Filipino, Vietnamese, and Cambodian origin. It is also present in African American families that trace their roots to African slaves who were taken to the U.S. and given last names that originated from their masters.
In terms of its prevalence, “MO” ranks as one of the top 1000 surnames in the U.S., positioned at number 436 according to the 2020 U.S. Census. Specifically, it appears in the top 500 surnames in numerous states, including California, Washington, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Nevada. Moreover, despite its relative rarity, research suggests that residents of the United Kingdom are 10 times more likely than the average person to have the MO surname.
Altogether, the MO last name is an ancient moniker, which has spread around the world with immigration and the slave trade. Throughout centuries, it has deepened its roots in East and Southeast Asia and has been adopted by many populations in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Mo
The surname MO is an uncommon given name and surname from various ethnic origins. It can be found as a surname throughout Europe, but it is most commonly seen as a Chinese surname. The variants for this name depend on the individual's ethnic background and include:
Chinese: 莫, 毛, 牟, 穆, 缪, 默, 模 and 陌
Japanese: 茂 (Mou)
Korean: 모 (Mo)
Vietnamese: Mong, Mộc, Mõ
The Chinese character “Mo” (莫) is often transliterated as “Mok”, “Mong”, “Mou”, or “Mung”. In Cantonese, “Mo” is commonly pronounced “Mak”. It can also be spelled as “Maw” or “Mao”.
In English, variants of the surname MO include Mow, Maugham, Mahome, Momee, Moh, Mowatt, Mowry, Morss, Morson, Moseley, Moss, and Moyer.
In France, MO can be found as Mauger, Maurel, Mauret, and Maury. Other German-speaking countries use the spelling Maurer, Moore, and Mauer. In Ireland and Scotland, the surname MO is often spelled as Mowat, Mower, or Moor.
In other languages and countries, the surname MO can be found as Mo, Modillo, and Mou in Brazil; Moure in Galicia; Moure in Salerno, Italy; Muir in Scotland; Murow in Poland; and Moir/Moir in Northern Ireland.
Famous people with the name Mo
- Mo Farah: A British Olympic track and field gold medalist, Farah has been hailed as the "greatest distance runner in history" for his exploits in long-distance running.
- Mo Ibrahim: A Sudanese-British businessman, philanthropist, scholar, and founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, he is a recognized leader in mobile telecommunications and actively engaged in advancing good governance and leadership in Africa.
- Mo Rocca: An American writer, actor, comic, and TV personality, Rocca is known for his work on The Daily Show, The Tonight Show, and the CBS Sunday Morning series.
- Mo Willems: An American author, illustrator, and animator of children’s books, Willems is known for his award-winning stories such as Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
- Mo Salah: An Egyptian professional football player, Salah plays for Premier League club Liverpool FC and captains the Egyptian national team as a forward.
- Mo'Nique: An American actress, comedian, and talk show host, Mo'Nique is best known for her role as Nikki Parker in the UPN TV series The Parkers.
- Mo'ne Davis: An American former prodigy baseball pitcher, Davis is notable for being the first female to play in the Little League Baseball World Series.
- Mo Chao: A Chinese football manager, Chao was the head coach of China women's national football team for two consecutive terms from 2012 to 2016.