Surname Mould - Meaning and Origin
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Mould: What does the surname Mould mean?
The surname Mould is of Old English origin and is derived from the Middle English term "Moule," which means "mold" or "pattern". It was traditionally an occupational name given to a maker of molds or patterns in various materials, used in a variety of manufacturing processes in the pre-industrial era. The term mold has origins in the Middle English, Old French, and Middle High German languages. So, individuals bearing the Mould surname were most likely working in the metal casting or pottery industries, creating patterns or molds. It's crucial to remember that in the context of surnames, many occupational names may point not to the job of the individual themselves, but possibly the job of their ancestor from whom the surname evolved. Personal attributes, location, and many more factors influenced the development of surnames through the ages.
Order DNA origin analysisMould: Where does the name Mould come from?
The last name MOULD is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. In the UK, the surname is mainly concentrated around the areas of Shropshire, Warwickshire, Greater London, West Yorkshire, Surrey and Essex.
It is believed that the surname originates from the Middle English word "molde" or the Old English word "mold", which referred to a vein of coal, or to a series of deep curved cuts in a riverbed into which stones were inserted as retaining walls.
In Ireland, the MOULD surname is most commonly found in Counties Leitrim, Monaghan, Mayo and the Province of Ulster. It is also occasionally found in the Republic of Ireland.
In Australia and New Zealand, the surname is derived from British settlers who came to the region in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The first recorded use of the MOULD surname in Australia was in 1831.
MOULD is also quite a common surname in various other countries, including Canada, United States, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, South Africa, and India.
Variations of the surname Mould
The surname MOULD has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Mould, Moulde, Mold, Molde, Mohl, Mohle and Mald.
Mould is a variant spelling of Moulde and Mold, which are both derived from Old English and Old German sources. Moulde and Molde are derived from the Old German moisture, which developed into a place name when combined with the word powder or hall, sometimes spelled holle, meaning a hall or earth shelter. The other variants of Mould, Mohl and Mohle, are derived from Low German and both of these variations are simply alternative spellings of Mold.
Mald is the variant spelling of Mold stemming from Old English, derived from mald mawl, meaning ‘region’ or ‘portion of land’. This word was combined with the Old English preposition a’ which meant from, of or at and evolved into the surname Mold.
MOULD is a popular surname throughout Europe and can be found in countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Austria and Norway. It is also a popular surname in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
In the United Kingdom, MOULD is the fourteenth most popular surname and is an occupational name, derived from the occupation of making moulds out of clay. In the United States, MOULD is the sixteenth most popular surname and in Canada, the thirteenth most popular.
In summary, the surname MOULD as well as its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are found throughout Europe and other parts of the world. These spellings include Mould, Moulde, Mold, Molde, Mohl, Mohle and Mald. Each spelling has a different derivation, but all are derived from either Old English or Old German sources, with Mould being the most popular in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
Famous people with the name Mould
- Bob Mould: Musician, songwriter, and record producer, known for his work with the alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü and Sugar.
- Roger Mould: former British Runner who represented Great Britain at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
- David Mould: Actor, known for film roles in “Manhattan” (1979) and “The Great Muppet Caper” (1981).
- Jim Mould: former professional American Football player who played from 1977 to 1984.
- Eric Mould: Voice Actor featured in “Team Umizoomi” and “The Magical Tales of the Night”.
- Colin Mould: Guitarist for rock band ``Barstow''.
- Don Mould: Drummer for the rock/hip-hop band ``Cypress Hill''.
- Erin Mould: Former Miss Texas USA and Laser Technician.
- Grant Mould: Bass Player for the Brazilian punk rock band ``Supercombo''.
- Ashley Mould: Figure Skater and Former U.S National Solo Dance Champion.