Show ContentsMoult History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Moult is a name that was brought to England by the ancestors of the Moult family when they migrated to the region after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Moult family lived in Cheshire. Before migrating to Normandy and then England, this family was originally the lords of Monte Alto, in Italy. Their name is thought to be a version of this place-name which underwent significant corruption through translation through several languages before being Anglicized.

Early Origins of the Moult family

The surname Moult was first found in Cheshire where the family of Maude, originally the Lords of Monte Alto, in Italy, settled in the Lordships and manors of Montalt and Hawarden in the county of Flint.

Early History of the Moult family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Moult research. Another 160 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1174 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Moult History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Moult Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Moult have been found, including Maude, Maud, Mawd, Mold, Mould, Moulds, Molds and others.

Early Notables of the Moult family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Moult Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Moult family to Ireland

Some of the Moult 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.


Moult migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Moult were among those contributors:

Moult Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Moult, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 1
  • Mary Moult, who landed in Virginia in 1664 1

Moult 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:

Moult Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Edwin Moult, aged 24, a farmer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arethusa" in 1879
  • Juliet Moult, aged 26, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arethusa" in 1879
  • Harry Moult, aged under 1, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arethusa" in 1879


  1. 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)


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