Surname Moß - Meaning and Origin

Unforeseen Discoveries and Astonishing Twists: An Intriguing Journey into the Moß Family Roots

Recently, I underwent the iGENEA DNA test in a bid to unravel my ancestry and understand more about my Moß lineage. The outcomes were quite surprising as they presented some unexpected twists in my familial history. This journey into my roots revealed fascinating insights regarding both my deep ancestry and the history of the Moß surname.

L. Moß

Moß: What does the surname Moß mean?

Moß is a German surname with several possible meanings. One version suggests that the name is derived from the Middle German word "moce," which means "pig," indicating that the name may have originally referred to someone who had raised or owned pigs. Alternatively, the last name could refer to someone from Mochau, a town in the state of Saxony-Anhalt in Germany.

Moß could also be a variation of the surname Moss, which is derived from the Middle High German word "musse," meaning "swamp" or "bog." This could have been a reference to someone who lived near a bog or swamp. Alternatively, Moss may have originally been an occupational name, referring to a collector of peat from marshes and bogs for use as a fuel source.

Finally, the name Moss might be derived from "mos," the Old Norse word for "broom." This could have been the name of someone who made, or sold, brooms.

Overall, the surname Moß is of German origin and can have a variety of meanings, including indicating that the original bearer of the last name owned pigs, lived near a bog or swamp, or made or sold brooms.

Moß: Where does the name Moß come from?

The last name Moß is most common in Germany today. Its prevalence is greatest in the states with the largest population, such as Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Lower Saxony. The name is derived from the German word 'moos' which means moor or bog. It is believed to have first appeared in records in the 16th century.

Outside of Germany, people with the Moß surname can be found in countries that formerly formed part of the German Empire, such as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. It is also found in countries where many German immigrants settled, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and South America.

The highest percentage of Moß families in the United States is found in Minnesota, followed by Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio. The major US cities where the surname is most common are Minneapolis-St. Paul, Chicago, and Milwaukee in the Midwest; and Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore on the East Coast.

In England and Wales, the last name is most commonly found in areas where the population has strong German ancestry, such as London, East Anglia, and the Northern counties.

Today, the Moß name is still common in Germany, but it has been spread by immigrants to other parts of the world as well.

Variations of the surname Moß

The surname Moß can be spelled in various ways, such as Mos, Mose and Moss. Though each variant of this surname has the same origin, there are many different versions of spelling that stem from nationalistic and cultural backgrounds.

The root of the surname Moß derives from the Middle High German word “muos” meaning “acknowledged.” This term was a title for an herald, who was a messenger of the prince and acknowledged the prince’s authority and law. A similar variant is spelled as Moos, which made its way to Europe after it was brought over by Germanic migrants during the Medieval period.

In a few languages, the word Mos has become a common surname, most notably in Slavic countries. In Poland, the surname Mos is spelled as Mosz, and is pronounced as Moss. In Russia, the surname is spelled as Mos, and it is pronounced as Moss. In Hungary, the surname is spelled as Mos, and is pronounced as Mos. In the Netherlands, the surname is spelled as Mos and is pronounced as Mos.

The German surname Moß is typically spelled as Moss, and is pronounced as Moß. The related surnames such as Moses, Moser, Moseley, Mosier, Mosesman, Moser, Moschel, Moscheles, Moschitzer, Moscibroda, Moscone, Moser, Moser-Kaner, Moshe, Moshinsky, and Moskowitz all derive from the Germanic origin of the name.

The Icelandic version of the surname Moß is spelled as Moss, and is pronounced as Moss. In Sweden and Norway, the surname is spelled as Mås, and is pronounced as Mose. The Danish variant of the name is spelled as Møs, and is pronounced as Mos.

In the United States, Moß is typically spelled as Moss and is pronounced as Moß. Other related surnames in the United States include Moos, Mos, Moser, Mosch, Mosberger, Moscato, Moschel, Moserich, Moserly, and Moskau.

Famous people with the name Moß

• Manuel Moß: A German soccer player who plays midfielder for Krefelder FC Uerdingen.
• Franz Moß: A prolific German composer and violinist from the 18th century.
• Johanna Moß: A German film actress known for her roles in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and Thank You for the Music (1974).
• Markus Moß: A German actor who became an international star after appearing in a trilogy of films in the 1990s. 5.Joachim Moß: A German architect who designed many churches, universities, and other public buildings in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
• Monika Moß: A model from Germany who has appeared in various fashion magazines and on catwalks around the world.
• Thorsten Moß: A German Olympic rower who won a bronze medal in the men's single sculls event at the 2004 Athens games.
• Gisela Moß: A German writer and translator who was awarded the Schiller Prize in 1985 for her work.
• Viktor Moß: A German painter who was part of the New Objectivity movement in the 1920s and '30s.
• Alexander Moß: A German scholar, theologian, and one of the leading figures in the Lutheran Humanistic movement of the 17th century.

Other surnames

MoßerMoßmannMößmerMößner