Surname Mohs - Meaning and Origin
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Mohs: What does the surname Mohs mean?
The last name Mohs is an occupational surname with its roots mainly found in Germany. It is derived from the German word “mohs”, which can refer to several different professions, including jewellery-making, miner, or blacksmith. The name is believed to have originated from a Middle High German word “möhse”, which means “instrument of cutting or carving”. It is also thought to have been used as an occupational title for a worker in a forge, hammering metal, or a jeweller working with precious metals.
The surname is first found in records in 1481 in Germany, during an age when hereditary surnames became popular. The first recorded spelling of the name is Mohs, which is found in surviving church documents dated 1503 for Wolfrus Mohs, who lived in the area of the Rhineland.
In Germany, the surname is among both nobility and commoners. It is a surname used by many Jewish families who left Germany after World War II, and is now largely found in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Over time, the surname has become connected to famous people of the same name, such as literature professor and historian Friedrich Mohs (1773-1839), who developed the Mohs Scale of Hardness, the standard used to test and identify minerals. In the 20th century, the name is used by a variety of famous people, such as the German philosopher Hermann Mohs, and in the US by scientist Ruth Schmeltzer Mohs, and computer scientist H. Mark Mohs.
Today, the surname is still mainly found in Germany, as well as in other German-speaking countries around the world. Other locations include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisMohs: Where does the name Mohs come from?
The last name Mohs is most common in Austria today. According to the Central Intelligence Agency, the name can be found in 1.4 percent of Austria's population – making it the 35th most common last name in the country. The name can also be found in Germany and the United States.
The origin of the name is German, derived from the word “mohs” meaning “cutter.” It is believed that the name may have originated centuries ago as an occupational surname for someone who worked as a skilled edged-tool maker or cutter. Some spelling variations of the name include Moh, Mohse, Mohsmann, and Muhs.
In the United States, the name Mohs is not particularly common, but it can be found in small numbers in various parts of the country, including Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., New York, Illinois, Florida, and California. California has the highest population of individuals with the name Mohs.
While the name Mohs is not particularly common in many countries today, it has a long history that can be traced back hundreds of years. For those with the last name, Mohs is an important reminder of history and a sense of cultural identity.
Variations of the surname Mohs
The surname Mohs is a patronymic German surname derived from the male given name 'Moses'. Variants and spellings of the name may include Mohss, Moes, Mohsse, Moess, Mohns, Moesser, Mohrs, Mohrz, Moers, Murs, and Maas. In the Low Countries, the variant Moers is the most common form, while in Germany it is generally Mohns.
The surname Mohs can be found in many countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Italy, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Morocco, and Australia, among many others.
In the United States, the surname Mohs is most predominantly found in the states of Michigan and Wisconsin. The surname ranks among the top 100 surnames in both Wisconsin and Michigan.
The most common surnames related to Mohs are Maas, Moes, Muhs, and Maahs. Maas, Moes, and Maahs are typically found in the Netherlands and Germany, while Muhs is more commonly found in the United States.
In addition, the shortened form of Mohs, Moh, is also found in some countries. The variant Moh is most common in the United States, where it ranks among the top 500 surnames. Variant spellings such as Mao and Maoh are also found in some countries, with Mao being the more common form in China, and Maoh being the more common form in Taiwan.
Famous people with the name Mohs
- Richard Mohs: Former Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, veteran policy advisor, and professor
- Reinhold Mohs: German mineralogist who developed the Mohs scale of mineral hardness
- Inga Mohs: German Nobel Peace Laureate who won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize
- Austin Mohs: American entrepreneur and CEO of Xert Aerospace Solutions
- Erika Mohs: German Doctor of Philosophy in Early Childhood Education
- Toby Mohs: American zoologist and conservationist at the University of Michigan's Museum of Zoology
- Ross Mohs: American corporate strategist and advisor
- Glenn Mohs: American physician and scientist
- Jack Mohs: American artist and theater director
- Adam Mohs: American digital media executive and co-founder of Melee.gg