Show ContentsMohr History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Mohr is a local name from the German speaking Austrian Empire. Local names and other types of hereditary surnames, first began to be used in this region after the 12th century. They were derived from the name of the place where the original bearer of the name lived. Sometimes local names bear the prefix "von", meaning "of" or "from". It was an indication of land-ownership, and was sometimes taken as a mark of aristocracy. The Mohr family originally lived in the modern state of Austria.

Early Origins of the Mohr family

The surname Mohr was first found in Austria and the Rhineland, where the name became noted for its many branches within the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied and enrolled by the princes of the region. In their later history the family became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family.

Early History of the Mohr family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mohr research. Another 221 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1299, 1557, 1613, 1627, 1665, 1704, 1801, 1806, 1824, 1879 and 1901 are included under the topic Early Mohr History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mohr Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Mohr include Mohr, More, Morher, Mohrer, Mor, Moor and others.

Early Notables of the Mohr family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Mohr were

  • Mohr, who founded a well-known publishing house in 1801...
  • Karl Friedrich Mohr (1806-1879) was the leading scientific pharmacist of his time in Germany...
  • He invented various new analytical processes and the "Mohr's balance" for determining specific weights and measurements...
  • Charles Theodore Mohr (1824-1901), a...

Mohr Ranking

In the United States, the name Mohr is the 1,937th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Mohr is ranked the 6,012nd most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2


United States Mohr migration to the United States +

After the First World War, Austria became a republic. The Treaty of Versailles broke up the empire in 1919 and many of the Sudeten Germans were incorporated into the new nation of Czechoslovakia. In the 20th century, many Austrians migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Mohr were

Mohr Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Christoph, Philip, and Henrich Mohr, all of whom, who arrived in New York City in 1709
  • Augustyn Mohr, who landed in New York in 1709 3
  • Heinrich Mohr, who landed in New York in 1709 3
  • Jonas Mohr, who arrived in New York in 1709 3
  • Johannes Mohr, who arrived in New York, NY in 1709 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Mohr Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Konrad Mohr, who arrived in America in 1831 3
  • Joseph Mohr, who landed in Missouri in 1841 3
  • Martin Mohr, who arrived in Galveston, Tex in 1845 3
  • Mr. Joh. Mohr, (Moor), German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Auguste Meline"
  • Mrs. Catherina Mohr, (Moor, nee Schmidt) German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Auguste Meline"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Mohr 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:

Mohr Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Mohr, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Telegraph" in 1863

Contemporary Notables of the name Mohr (post 1700) +

  • Wilhelm Mohr (1917-2016), Norwegian aviation officer awarded the War Cross with sword, the British Distinguished Flying Cross, and the American Legion of Merit
  • Major-General Dwight Harold Mohr (1886-1956), American Commanding Officer Maryland State Guard (1941) 4
  • Gerald Mohr (1914-1968), American radio, film and television character actor
  • Chris Mohr (b. 1966), American football punter
  • Charles Theodor Mohr, German born American pharmacist and botanist
  • Howard R. Mohr (b. 1921), American politician, Mayor of Forest Park, Illinois, 1963-67; Member of Illinois State Senate 5th District, 1967-77 5
  • George C. Mohr, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Jersey, 1912 5
  • George Mohr, American politician, U.S. Consul in Dresden, 1843-50 5
  • Emily W. Mohr, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Stratford, 1926 5
  • Edward Mohr, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Wayne County, 1960 5
  • ... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Dwight Mohr. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Mohr/Dwight_Harold/USA.html
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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