Contents [hide]

Moor History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Sources

Moor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Moor

What does the name Moor mean?

The origins of the German name Moor lie within the Austrian empire. Within this region, hereditary surnames began to be adopted after the 12th century, and names that were derived from localities became increasingly widespread. Local surnames originally denoted the proprietorship of the village or estate. When coupled with the German preposition von, which means from or of, local names can indicate that the initial bearer of the name was an aristocrat. However, in modern times, the preposition is frequently dropped from surnames of this type. The Moor family originally lived in the modern state of Austria.

Early Origins of the Moor family

The surname Moor 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 Moor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Moor 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 Moor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Moor Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Moor include Mohr, More, Morher, Mohrer, Mor, Moor and others.

Early Notables of the Moor family

J.C.B. 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...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Moor Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Moor Ranking

the United States, the name Moor is the 10,449^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Moor 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 Moor were

Moor Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Moor, who landed in New Hampshire in 1630 3
Henry Moor, who landed in Maryland in 1649 3
Jane Moor, who landed in Maryland in 1652-1653 3
Roger Moor, who landed in Maryland in 1652-1653 3
Ann Moor, who landed in Maryland in 1652-1653 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Moor Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Margaret Moor, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 3
Rebecca Moor, who landed in Virginia in 1703 3
Gilbert Moor, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 3
Andreas Moor, who arrived in New York in 1709 3
Henrich Moor, who arrived in New York, NY in 1710 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Moor Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Gabriel Moor, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1812 3
James Moor, aged 23, who arrived in Delaware in 1812 3
Samuel D Moor, aged 27, who landed in New York, NY in 1821 3
Lewis Moor, aged 22, who landed in America in 1822 3
Johannes Moor, who arrived in Texas in 1840-1850 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Moor migration to Canada +

Moor Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Mosa Moor U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 he served in Jessups Rangers 4
Mr. Thomas Moor U.E. who settled in Kingston, Kings County, New Brunswick c. 1784 4
Mr. William Moor U.E. who settled in Adolphus Town [Adolphustown], Ontario c. 1786 he was in the Works, Engineers Department 4

Moor Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Richard Moor, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1825
Mary Mullany Moor, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1831

Moor migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the Second Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Second Fleet

Mr. Thomas Moor, (Allen), British settler convicted in Oxfordshire, England in 1790, sentenced to Life for theft, transported aboard the ship "Albermarle" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 2

Following the Second Fleet, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Moor Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Moor, British Convict who was convicted in Newark (Newark-on-Trent), Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
Mr. William Moor, British Convict who was convicted in Newark (Newark-on-Trent), Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
Mr. Joseph Moor, English convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asiatic" on 5th June 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. John Moor, English convict who was convicted in North Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Robert Moor, English convict from York, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Moor 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:

Moor Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Simon Moor, (b. 1860), aged 19, Scottish farm labourer, from Orkney travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Invercargill, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 28th August 1879 9
Sarah Moor, aged 34, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Rimutaka" in 1886
Henry R. Moor, aged 11, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Rimutaka" in 1886
Thomas Moor, aged 10, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Rimutaka" in 1886
Emma M. Moor, aged 8, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Rimutaka" in 1886
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Moor (post 1700) +

Wyman Bradbury Seavy Moor (1811-1869), American politician and lawyer, United States Senator from Maine in 1848
Terry Moor (b. 1952), American former tennis player
Drew Moor (b. 1984), American professional soccer player
Andrew Moor (1960-2025), Canadian businessman and banker, CEO of EQ Bank or Equitable Bank
Duncan de Moor (b. 1994), known professionally as Duncan Laurence, Dutch singer and songwriter
William Moor (b. 1765), English sailor and explorer associated with the Hudson’s Bay Company
Ian John Moor (b. 1974), English singer
Henry Moor (1809-1877), English lawyer and politician who emigrated to Australia in 1842 where he became Mayor of Melbourne (1842-1854)
George Raymond Dallas Moor VC, MC & Bar (1896-1918), Australian soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross for his actions on 5th June, 1915
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Moor family +

RMS Titanic

Mrs. Beila Moor, aged 29, Russian Third Class passenger from Romania who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 14 10
Master Meier Moor, aged 7, Russian Third Class passenger from Romania who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 14 11
Eliz. Moor, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
Mr. Patrick Moor, British traveler who was aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, survived the sinking

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1828 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1828
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html