Surname Moffett - Meaning and Origin

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My iGENEA DNA test revealed intriguing and fascinating insights linked to our family name - Moffett. The Moffett surname, deeply rooted in ancient Irish and Scottish narratives, exposed me to rich historical and cultural insights. From Gaelic origins to prominent Scottsh clan histories, and cultural customs to resilient personalities, the journey into my ancestry was enlightening and enriching.

Z. Moffett

Moffett: What does the surname Moffett mean?

Moffett is a surname with Scottish origins, specifically from the region of Dumfriesshire. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "magh" and "fada," which roughly translate to "field" and "long," respectively. Thus, the original meaning of Moffett is often interpreted as "long field" or "extended plain." Its original bearers likely lived in or were associated with such a geographical feature.

The name began to be used as a family surname in medieval times, possibly to identify individuals who came from the village of Moffat, located in Annandale, Dumfriesshire. The village of Moffat was once a notable sanctuary for criminals and outlaws.

Like many surnames, Moffett has multiple variations and spellings, including Moffat, Moffit, and Moffitt. This variation occurred as the name was passed down through generations and used in different regions. Notable people with the surname include English actor Peter Moffett (better known as Peter Davison) and American Bessie Moffett, mother of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Moffett: Where does the name Moffett come from?

The last name Moffett is most commonly found in the United States and England today. According to the U.S. Census for 2000, nearly 12,000 individuals reported having the last name Moffett. The majority of those individuals were concentrated in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania.

In England, particularly southern England, the last name Moffett is found most often. Census records for England and Wales report over 2000 individuals with this name. The cities and areas with the highest concentration of Moffetts are London and South East Wales, along with Manchester and Sheffield. There are Moffetts living in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland, too, but not in large numbers.

The origin of the last name is not known, but it is likely that the name derived from a personal name, or a place name. In many cases, last names evolved from professions, nicknames, or descriptions of physical features. In the case of the Moffett name, it might also have its roots in the Old English personal name “Mof” plus the suffix “et”, which means “little”. So, the name means “little Mof”. There is also a village in Scotland, called Moffat, which could be the origin of this last name.

Overall, the last name Moffett is not commonly found outside of the United States and England, but it has a long history and many people still have it as a last name.

Variations of the surname Moffett

The surname Moffett is a occupational name of Scottish origin. It derives from the Old English term "movat", which is a derivative of 'mawe', meaning "to move". The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Moffett include the following:

Moffat, Moffett, Moffitt, Moffatt, Moffatt and even Mofferd.

Moffat is the most popular variant of the surname. It was first used by a family of noble Scottish descent, the de Moffattr family, who were granted lands near Moffat in Dumfrier. The Moffatt spelling spread throughout mostly England and Scotland.

Moffett is of Irish origin and is mostly used in the United States and Canada. It could also be an English or Scottish version of the name.

Moffitt is an Anglicised form of the Irish surname MacMoffitt. It is mostly used in the United States and Canada.

Moffatt is the Scottish spelling of Moffett which is derived from the Old English term "movat". This spelling is mostly used in Scotland and Ireland.

Mofferd is also a variant of Moffett and is derived from the old Swedish word "mord", meaning "swamp".

Overall, most of the variant spellings and surnames of the original surname Moffett are found in the British Isles and North America. Each variant has slightly different and unique lineages, which can be traced back to the de Moffattr family of Scotland.

Famous people with the name Moffett

• Bill Moffett: Emmy Award-winning actor with over forty years of experience in film, television, and radio.
• Gareth Moffett: Irish singer and songwriter, best known for his singles "Arms Of An Angel" and "Found".
• Ben Moffett: British actor, known for his roles in the film The Princess Bride, TV series The Warriors, and video games Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V.
• Phil Moffett: Politician from Kentucky who served in the state legislature from 2010-2013.
• Jessica Moffett: Actress best known for her roles in TV shows Medium, Get Christie Love, and Teachers.
• David Moffett: retired Welsh rugby union player and former chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union.
• Mike Moffett: Professional race car driver who won the 2006 Daytona 500.
• Neil Moffett: British soldier who was awarded the Victoria Cross during the Second World War for heroism while serving with the Royal Engineers.
• John Moffett: Actor, best known for his roles in the TV shows Dynasty and Kojak.
• Alice Moffett: American author and director, best known for her short film Fairhaven.

Other surnames

Moffet