Surname Musgrove - Meaning and Origin

My iGENEA DNA Analysis Journey: Unmasking the Deep Roots of the Musgrove Lineage

My iGENEA DNA analysis journey has not only shed light on the deep roots of my surname 'Musgrove' but also traced back to our earliest beginnings in farming communities of the Fertile Crescent. From the British Isles through vassals of the King to the cradle of civilization itself, this voyage of discovery has been truly enlightening.

I. Musgrove

Musgrove: What does the surname Musgrove mean?

The last name Musgrove is an English surname derived from the town of Musgrove, located near Taunton in Somerset. The origin of the surname is believed to come from one of two possible sources, either from a personal name or an external source such as a place-name. The earliest known recordings of the Musgrove name date back to the 12th century, with the first recorded use being "Musgrave".

Musgrove is thought to have derived from a personal name, most likely the Olde English male given name "Musca", meaning "mouse". This personal name was later combined with “graef”, an Olde English word meaning "ridge", to form "Musgrave".

Over time, this combination of Musca and graef evolved into a family name, which eventually spread throughout Britain. During the 16th century, it is believed that many members of the Musgrove family had moved to regions of North America and Ireland. By the 19th century, the Musgrove surname had spread to many areas of the world.

The Musgrove surname is one of many surnames that holds in its roots centuries of tradition and development. It is believed that the Musgrove surname was one of many that embodied resiliency and determination, as those with the surname were influential and successful throughout numerous regions.

Musgrove: Where does the name Musgrove come from?

The last name Musgrove is most commonly found today in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. In the United States, particularly in the southern states, the Musgroves are more heavily represented, spanning from the mid-Atlantic states of Virginia and Maryland into North and South Carolina to the Midwest and Rocky Mountain states of Georgia, Tennessee and Colorado. Some of the largest concentrations are in the states of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

In the United Kingdom, the Musgrove surname is most heavily represented in the counties of Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Cheshire and Lancashire. In Canada, the most densely populated regions are in British Columbia and Ontario, while in Australia the majority of those with that surname can be found in the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.

The last name Musgrove is believed to have originated in England in the early part of the Middle Ages. It is quite likely the name derived from the Old French word “mouchegrove”, which is defined as “the grove of the flies”. This could have been named for a wooded area or settlement with a large number of pesky insects dwelling in, around, and about it. Over time, that French word evolved into the surname Musgrove as we know it today.

Variations of the surname Musgrove

The surname Musgrove is one of the oldest and most prolific surnames in the English language. The origin of the name is derived from an old English word ‘muger’, meaning servant. It is a fairly common surname in both England and the United States. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Musgrove are Mussgrove, Musgrave, Mosegrove, Mosgrove, Musgroff, Musgroffel, Muggrave, Mosgrov, Mozgrove, Mosgroff, Mosgriff, Mosgrief, Mosbrove, Mosgraf, and Musgroff.

In some cases, the name has evolved over time from the spelling Mosgrove to Musgrove. This is especially true in the United States where many people with the Mosgrove surname have since adopted the spelling Musgrove. It is also possible that some individuals with the Musgrove surname may also have had the spelling Mosgrove at one point in their history, but adopted the more common spelling as it became more prominent in the United States.

The ancient roots of the name Musgrove date back to the Middle Ages, when it was originally used as an honorific title for a servant. It was later adopted as a proper surname through the use of patronymic naming practices, which were common in the 16th century.

Although the name is originally of English origin, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin can be found in other parts of the world. For example,in Scotland, the surname Musgrove is sometimes spelled Mosgroff or Mosgrief. The surname can also be found in parts of France, Germany, Sweden and other countries in Continental Europe.

Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the Musgrove surname are a testament to its longevity and its widespread adoption throughout the world.

Famous people with the name Musgrove

• Dean Musgrove: English cricketer
• Eva Musgrove: British actress
• Thomas Musgrove: American YouTube personality
• Warren Musgrove: Australian rugby league player
• Joanne Musgrove: British Olympic swimmer
• Russ Musgrove: Canadian actor
• Ashley Musgrove: Welsh singer
• David Musgrove: English comedian
• Jared Musgrove: New Zealand rugby union player
• Tina Musgrove: Scottish golfer
• William Musgrove: Irish artist
• Bernard Musgrove: South African soccer player
• Emma Musgrove: Finnish judoka
• Margaret Musgrove: Norwegian biathlete
• Jonah Musgrove: Indian Paralympic athlete

Other surnames

Musgroves