Show ContentsMobley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Mobley family

The surname Mobley was first found in Cheshire at Mobberley, a parish, in the union of Altrincham, hundred of Bucklow. [1] [2] The parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first listed as Motburlege and literally meant "clearing at the fortification where meetings are held," from the Old English "mot" + "burh" + "leah." [3]

Moberly was held by Bigot de Loges at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book and conjecturally, the family name is descended from this ancient Norman Baron. St Wilfrid's Church, Mobberley traces it's origin to the oldest part of the church dating about 1245.

Early records revealed Patrick de Mobberley founded an Augustinian priory here in 1206 in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Wilfrid, but the priory only existed for a short time. During a restoration in 1888, remains of a Saxon church were also found. Nearby, Mobberley Old Hall is a country house that dates back to 1612.

One of the first records of the family was Patrick Moberlegh who was listed in East Cheshire c. 1220. Almost one hundred years later, William de Modburlegh was listed in Cheshire in 1308. [4] Ralph de Modberleg was listed in the Assize Rolls of Cheshire in 1260. [5]

Early History of the Mobley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mobley research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1565, 1568, 1585 and 1756 are included under the topic Early Mobley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mobley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Moberley, Mobberley, Mobeley, Mobdurley, Mobley and others.

Early Notables of the Mobley family

More information is included under the topic Early Mobley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mobley Ranking

In the United States, the name Mobley is the 1,142nd most popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. [6]


United States Mobley migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mobley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • George and Addie Mobley, who settled in New York in 1878
  • Rd. Mobley, who landed in America, in 1892
Mobley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • James L. Mobley, aged 28, who settled in America from Liverpool, in 1901
  • William A. T. Mobley, aged 35, who immigrated to America from Birmingham, England, in 1911
  • Josephine Mobley, aged 18, who immigrated to the United States, in 1914
  • J.L. Mobley, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States, in 1920
  • J L Mobley, aged 32, who landed in America, in 1921
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Mobley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mobley Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Harry Mobley, aged 30, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1914

New Zealand Mobley migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Mobley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Louisa Mobley, (b. 1844), aged 18, British domestic servant travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 [7]
  • Mr. Richard Mobley, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lincoln" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 19th July 1867 [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Mobley (post 1700) +

  • Eric Mobley (1970-2021), American professional basketball player who played three seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA)
  • Henry "Hank" Mobley (1930-1986), American hard bop and soul jazz tenor saxophonist and composer from Eastman, Georgia
  • Russell Glen "Russ" Mobley (1933-2018), American politician and educator, Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives (2001-2009)
  • Sybil Lenora Collins Mobley (1925-2015), American Dean Emerita of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) School of Business and Industry
  • Ethel Mobley (1920-1984), American stock car racer, the second female to drive in NASCAR history
  • Ethel Mobley (1920-1984), American race car driver, the second female to drive in NASCAR history, supposedly named after the gasoline her father used in his car
  • Annie Ward Mobley, American politician, Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives (2007-)
  • Anne Mobley (1929-1988), birth name of Anne Ramsey, an American stage, television, and film actress, most famous for her role as Mama Fratelli in The Goonies
  • Mary Ann Mobley (1939-2014), American actress and television personality, former Miss America (1959)
  • George F. Mobley (b. 1935), American photographer
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


Suggested Readings for the name Mobley +

  • Dunkin-Reid and Garner-McGraw-Mobley Families of South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama by Dean Smith Cress.

  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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