Surname Mowle - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Mowle: What does the surname Mowle mean?
The surname Mowle is of English origin and is derived from variations of the Middle English word "mole," which means "mole" (the small burrowing mammal). It was originally used as a nickname for someone who had a mole or blemish, or someone who was considered to be as timid or industrious as a mole. Often in Medieval times, people were referred to or known by their distinctive physical traits and this may have been the case with the surname Mowle. The surname has many variations due to regional linguistics and phonetic spellings, such as Mowles, Moles, Moule, and Mewle etc. It is also found to be quite common in Cornwall county, England. As surnames became a necessity for official record keeping, these nicknames often evolved into permanent surnames passed down through generations.
Order DNA origin analysisMowle: Where does the name Mowle come from?
The last name Mowle is most common today in the United Kingdom. It is one of the oldest surnames of British Isles origin, and appears in historical documents dating back to 1086 when the Survey of Cornwall was taken during the reign of William the Conqueror.
The Mowle surname is particularly concentrated in the south-western regions of England, in particular the counties of Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Cornwall. It is also found in counties to the north-west of England, such as Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria. The Mowle surname is also found around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The meaning of the Mowle name is not clear, but it is thought to originate from an Old English personal name Moel. This personal name may be derived from either the Old English terms for 'bare' or 'bare hill', possibly referencing the hills of these southern counties. Another theory is that the name is derived from an Old English place-name 'Morlaestone' in Somerset.
In more recent times the Mowles have emigrated around the world, often driven by poverty and seeking better economic prospects. This has meant that the Mowles have spread to many more countries besides those mentioned before. Despite this, the name remains most common in its south-western roots.
Variations of the surname Mowle
The surname MOWLE has many variations in spelling, some of which are MOWEL, MAUL, MAULL, MOEL and MOAL. It also has a few variant surnames such as MOWELL, MAUEL, MUELL and MOWLEM.
The etymology of MOWLE isn't certain, but some suggest it is an Old English habitational or toponymic surname, derived from either of the two place names: Moel near Wrexham, in Wales, or Mowley in Rutland, England.
The first recorded use of the name was in 1294, when Henry de Moel was recorded in the Fee Rolls of Shrewsbury. The surname was later found in Wales in 1533, when Thomas Mowle of Mold, was recorded on the Subsidy Roll.
In Scotland, the name is commonly spelled MOWAT and MOWATT. This variant is thought to have derived from the Gaelic surname Mhathail, which is derived from the term Mhath, which means “bear”.
In America, some variant spellings of the name are MOONEWALL, MONELE and MONELL. The name also appeared in Canada in the late 1700s, where it was spelled MOWAL and MOUEL.
The name MOWLE is mainly concentrated in the English counties of Rutland and Shropshire, though the MOWAT variant is found mainly in Argyllshire and Forfarshire.
Famous people with the name Mowle
- Gloria Mowle: British television actress
- Tony Mowle: English soccer player
- Jonathan Mowle: Canadian actor and producer
- Nichole Mowle: American actress
- Deric Mowle: Professional wrestler
- Paul Mowle: British politicians and educator
- Saddique Mowle: Indian cricketer
- Sue Mowle: Australian TV presenter
- Jan Mowle: American TV show host
- Steve Mowle: British racing car driver