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Moyes History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Moyes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Moyes was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Moyes 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 Moyes family

The surname Moyes 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 Moyes family

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

Moyes 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 Moyes have been found, including Moy, Moye, Moys, Moyse, Moyes, Moses, Moesen, Moi and others.

Early Notables of the Moyes family

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

Moyes Ranking

In the United States, the name Moyes is the 18,548^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Moyes family to Ireland

Some of the Moyes 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.

Moyes 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 Moyes were among those contributors:

Moyes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Moyes, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 2

Moyes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Magin Moyes, aged 14, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1828 2
Pablo Moyes, aged 29, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1833 2
Andrew Moyes, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1852 2
George Moyes, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 2

Moyes migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Moyes Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Moyes, Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 12th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 3
William Moyes, aged 23, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Catherine" 4
William Moyes, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Catherine" in 1851 4
Mary Moyes, aged 22, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Catherine" in 1851 4
Levi Moyes, aged 1, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Catherine" in 1851 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Moyes 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:

Moyes Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Moyes, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "William Watson" in 1859
Mr. William Moyes, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "William Watson" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th February 1859 5
Mr. Agnus Moyes, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Sevilla" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1864 5
Mrs. Moyes, Scottish settler with 5 children travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Sevilla" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1864 5
Miss A. Moyes, (b. 1855), aged 19, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Varuna" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 27th May 1874 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Moyes (post 1700) +

Jerry Moyes, American founder, chairman and CEO of Swift Transportation, one of the largest trucking companies in America
W. W. Moyes, American politician, Member of South Dakota State Senate 11th District, 1929-30 6
Chris Moyes OBE (1949-2006), English co-founder of Go Ahead Group, one of the United Kingdom's largest transport businesses
Henry Moyes (1750-1807), English lecturer on natural philosophy
David Moyes (1955-2024), Scottish professional footballer
Gordon Keith Mackenzie Moyes AC (1938-2015), Australian Christian evangelist, broadcaster and former politician
James Moyes (1851-1921), Scottish writer, theologian, and controversialist from Edinburgh
Kris Moyes (b. 1978), Australian-born director and producer
Harry Moyes (b. 1896), Australian rules footballer
Patricia Moyes (1923-2000), Irish-born, British mystery writer, nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1971
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Moyes family +

HMS Dorsetshire

Ronald Moyes (d. 1945), British Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 7

RMS Titanic

Mr. William Young Moyes (d. 1912), aged 23, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 8

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th December 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CATHERINE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Catherine.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html