Surname Moffet - Meaning and Origin

Moffet: What does the surname Moffet mean?

The surname Moffet is of Scottish origin and has historical traces to the region of Dumfriesshire. It is believed to be of locational origin, specifically derived from the town of Moffat in Dumfriesshire. In old Scottish Gaelic, the term "Moffat" means "the long, flat field" or "plain" referring to the town's geographical features. It was used to distinguish individuals who hailed from or resided in this region. Variations of the name include Moffatt, Moffit, and Moffitt. Like many other surnames, Moffet would have initially served as a means of identification, but over time became a hereditary surname passed down through generations. While it is primarily seen in Scotland and Northern England, emigration patterns have led to its spread globally.

Moffet: Where does the name Moffet come from?

The last name Moffet is most commonly found in the United States. The origin of the name is Irish, and it first became popular in the 19th century as Irish immigrants moved to America in search of a better life.

In 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that over 22,000 people living in the United States had the surname Moffet. The name was most popular in Texas, where it ranked as the 758th most common name. It was also highly popular in Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, and Ohio.

Since 2010, the popularity of the name Moffet has mostly stayed the same. In the last 10 years, the name has remained in the top 200 most popular last names in the United States. This suggests that the name is still widely used in many parts of the country.

The name Moffet is associated with a few prominent historical figures, such as USAF Brigadier General Alfred M. Moffet and Lieutenant General John H. Moffet. It is also quite common among athletes, especially in the NFL, where it has been carried by the likes of Pro Bowl cornerback Brandon Moffet and former Washington Redskins wide receiver Steve Moffet.

Overall, the last name Moffet remains a moderately popular name in the United States today, and it is mostly associated with people from Irish or American origins.

Variations of the surname Moffet

Moffet is a surname of English and Scottish origin. The English variant was derived from the early Anglo-Saxon word "muffet" or "moffet," which is thought to mean a person with a large forehead. The Scottish variant was derived from the Gaelic word "Mac Phoit" ("son of Phoit"), a byname for someone with a prominent or outstanding nose or chin.

The variants and other spellings of Moffet include Moffat, Muffet, Muffett, Moffitt, Muffit, Mufitt, Moffit, and Maffatt.

In Scotland, variants of the name Moffet include MacPhoit, Mac Foid, McPhoit, McFoid, Mc Foid, and MacFoid.

In England, the surname Moffet is sometimes associated with other surname spellings, including Moffatt, Muffett, Muffitt, Mufitt, and Maffatt.

Moffet is an uncommon surname, but there are numerous derivatives, spellings, and variants. Some of the more popular derivatives of Moffet include Moffatt, Muffett, Muffitt, Mufitt, and Maffatt. All of these have the same root of the original surname of Moffet.

Famous people with the name Moffet

• Hope Moffet: A former American actress, known for her roles in The Bionic Woman, Empty Nest and Night Court
• Patrick Moffet: A Canadian actor, known for his roles in Soon By You, The Good Wife and Bridge and Tunnel.
• Dorothy Moffet: A popular 1930s/40s silent era child actress, known for her roles in Stella Dallas and Stella Maris.
• Ian Moffet: A former professional ice hockey player, who played in the NHL for the Washington Capitals, St Louis Blues and Hartford Whalers.
• Paul Moffet: A Canadian professional boxer and light heavyweight champion.
• Robert Moffett: A prominent 19th century Wesleyan minister, known and respected for his sermon writing and devotion to temperance.
• Michael Moffet: An American professional swimmer and Olympic champion, who won silver in the 200m breaststroke at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
• Donald Moffet: An American sculptor and painter, known for his large scale public sculptures, such as The Skater's Edge at the Seattle Center.
• Clarence Moffett: An American scientist and science writer, best known for his National Geographic articles on planets, moons, and other astronomical objects.
• Monty Moffet: A British rock and roll singer and songwriter, best known for his hits "Don't You Think It's Time" and "Dreaming of Another World".

Other surnames

Moffett