Surname Moberly - Meaning and Origin

Moberly: What does the surname Moberly mean?

Moberly is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin derived from a place name. The origin of this surname can be traced to a location known as Mobberley, in Cheshire, England. The name Mobberley itself comes from Old English pre 7th century words "Modburh-leah," where "Modburh" is a personal name meaning "brave council," and "leah" signifies "clearing in a woodland or forest". Thus, "Modburh-leah" could denote "Modburh's clearing".

Most English surnames originated as either occupational names, patronymic names, nicknames, or toponyms i.e. from geographical features. Moberly matches the lattermost group — it associates with a physical location. As families or individuals migrated, they would carry the name of their birthplace to new locales, gradually modifying it into new forms such as Mobberley to Moberly. The surname's variations include Moberley and Mobberly.

Moberly is also quite notable in the annals of British history as the name of significant personalities such as Charlotte Anne Moberly, especially in relation to the famed Moberly-Jourdain incident, an influential purported time travel event.

Moberly: Where does the name Moberly come from?

The last name Moberly is most common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Ireland. In the United States, individuals bearing the Moberly surname are most likely to be found in the southern central and southeastern regions, with concentrations in the states of Kentucky, Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. In the United Kingdom, the Moberly name is more widespread, with the largest concentrations in London, Oxfordshire, Surrey, and Liverpool. In Canada, the majority of Moberlys can be found in Ontario and British Columbia, with a concentration in Ottawa. In Australia, the Moberly name is found primarily in New South Wales and the Northern Territory, with major concentrations in Sydney and Alice Springs. Finally, in Ireland, the Moberly name is found mostly in the counties of Dublin and Limerick.

The Moberly name has been identified in records dating back to the 15th century in England, Ireland, and Scotland. In some cases, it is derived from the place name Moberly in Shropshire, England. Another interpretation suggests that it is derived from an Old English personal name, 'Moeleberht', composed of the elements 'moele' (famous) and 'beorht' (bright). In other cases, the name may be of Norman origin, as 'Mortemer' or 'Moumer', from the place name 'Mortemer-l'Evêque', in the Seine-Maritime département of Normandy, France.

Variations of the surname Moberly

The surname Moberly is of English origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English personal name Moberg, which is derived from the elements mund and burg meaning “protector” and “fortification” respectively. The spelling variants of the surname Moberly include Moberley, Moberleigh, Mobberley, Mobberly, Moberlie, and Moberly.

Moberly is a fairly common surname in the United had States with almost 14,000 people bearing the name. Historically, Moberly is found mostly in the counties of Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire, and Cambridgeshire.

The surname Moberly is also found in Scotland with a few hundred people bearing the name there.

Surnames that are related to Moberly include Mobley, Maberry, Mabury, Marchbank, Marchant, Marchion, Mobber, Mabbs, Marchman, Mercer, and Mucha.

The Latin form of the surname Moberly is de Moberg, which is found in the records of the 12th century. One of the earliest record of the surname Moberly (de Moberg) is found in 1230 in the Assize Rolls of Cambridgeshire where one William de Moberg was listed among the subordinate tenants.

Throughout the years, the spelling of the surname Moberly may have changed due to the heavy local dialects found in the British Isles as well as the lack of standardization within local documentations.

Famous people with the name Moberly

• Jarvis Moberly: a former Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio and television news reporter
• Charles Moberly: an English actor
• Francis Bevan Moberly: a British Brigadier General who served the British Indian Army
• Deanna Moberly: an American actress
• Garet Moberly: a British entrepreneur
• Henry B. Moberly: an American farmer and politician
• Walter Moberly: a British academic and Anglican priest
• Don Moberly: a former American football quarterback
• Pauline Moberly: a British medical doctor
• Lorna Moberly: an American pioneer of computer science
• Joe Moberly: an American jockey who competed in Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing
• Dolph Moberly: an American former professional basketball player
• Jerry Moberly: an American speed skater and photographer
• Charlotte Moberly: a British mystic and traveler

Other surnames

Moberg