Moesen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Moesen is one of the many new names that came to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Moesen family lived in Shropshire. The name, however, is a reference to the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England, Moy, Normandy.

Early Origins of the Moesen family

The surname Moesen was first found in Shropshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The earliest reference to the name was Jeanne de Moy, a wealthy dowager widow of William Crispin IX, Baron of Bec in France about the year 1325. The name originated in Moy in Normandy. However, the name Moy became interpreted in northwestern England and Wales, and on the Welsh border as Moyes, Moyse, and Moses, even Moesen, the latter being a Welsh version being found in Denbigh, Llangollen and Wrexham. The name was also extended to Mostyn, and became attached to Vychan, Lord of Mostyn.

Early History of the Moesen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Moesen research. Another 61 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1623 and 1688 are included under the topic Early Moesen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Moesen Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Moy, Moye, Moys, Moyse, Moyes, Moses, Moesen, Moi and others.

Early Notables of the Moesen family

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

Migration of the Moesen family to Ireland

Some of the Moesen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Moesen family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Moesen or a variant listed above were: Francois Moy who settled in Louisiana in 1719; Dennis, Edward and Hugh Moy settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1853; John Moys settled in Philadelphia in 1878.