Surname Moody - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling Ancestral Threads - Tracing the Origin and History of the 'Moody' Lineage through iGENEA DNA Analysis

Embarking on a captivating journey to discover my familial ancestry through iGENEA’s DNA analysis, I engaged myself in untangling the roots of my surname - 'Moody'. The process unlocked the doors to my historical lineage, revealing an enriching tapestry of my genetic origins.

R. Moody

Moody: What does the surname Moody mean?

The surname Moody is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has both English and Irish roots. In English, it is derived from the old English pre 7th Century word "modig" which means brave or impetuous. It was often used as a nickname for someone with a brave or impetuous disposition. In Ireland, the name Moody is an Anglicization of the Gaelic name "O'Móda," with "O" denoting a male descendant and "Móda" being a personal name meaning "champion." Thus, it was a name often given to descendants of champions or strong, brave warriors. The surname spread throughout Britain and Ireland during the Middle Ages, later moving to North America and other parts of the world with English and Irish emigrants. Therefore, the Moody surname represents a characteristic of bravery, impetuosity, or a link to champion ancestry.

Moody: Where does the name Moody come from?

The last name Moody is most commonly found in the United States, although it can also be found in other countries. According to data obtained by the U.S. Census Bureau, the most prevalent states where Moody is seen are Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi, and North Carolina.

Moody has also been noted as a common last name in Canada, mainly in Ontario and Alberta. Furthermore, the name is found in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Australia.

In the United States, TraceMyFamily.com reports that the earliest known occurrences of the name Moody come from the early 1700s in South Carolina and Virginia. This was around the time of the American Revolution, which means that it is likely some Moodys played a role in this important period of U.S. history.

It is believed that the Moody surname has a Norman name origin. This means that the original progenitor of the Moodys likely arrived to the U.S.A. from Normandy, France. DNA evidence links today's Moody families to European Norman ancestry.

Today, you'll find many Moodys living across the United States and Canada. In addition, there is an organization called the 'Moody Family Association' which exists to honor and preserve the surname. The group meets annually and puts out a quarterly newsletter to share family stories and history.

Variations of the surname Moody

The surname Moody has many variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin. There are numerous spellings of the name, including Moodey, Mudey, Mudy, Mudie, Mudye, Modey, Modie, Moddy, Mody, and Moddey. These all derive from the Middle English and Norman French word “mode”, which means “hot temper or choleric”.

This word is also the origin of several surnames, which are closely related to Moody, such as Mode, Modon, and Moden. Mode can also be spelled Mod and Modon as Modawn. Other related surnames include Moad, Modune, Modonn, Moduin, Moding, Modio, and Modi.

The name Moody can also have common misspellings, such as Moodie, Moudie, Mudi, and Muddy. Furthermore, Moody is also an anglicized form of several Gaelic or Irish surnames, such as O’Modha and MacMaoith. Other Gaelic or Irish surnames derived from Moody include O’Moduidh, Muadhan, Maudobin, MacApplicatin, MacMothan, Modden, Mahon, and Mohin.

Overall, Moody is a variant of many surnames of either Anglo-Norman or Gaelic/Irish origin, all of which ultimately derive from the term “mode” meaning “hot tempered”.

Famous people with the name Moody

• Sheryl Moody: an American journalist and television anchor.
• Darin Moody: a former professional football player in the Canadian Football League.
• Lenin Christopher Moody: an American actor and producer.
• F. Lee Moody: a former American football and baseball player.
• Paul Moody: a British singer, songwriter, producer and record label manager.
• Hugh Moody: an American minister, lawyer, social activist and abolitionist.
• Sherri Moody-Garner: an innovative corporate, civic and philanthropic leader.
• Eddie Lee Moody: an American Baptist prelate, civil rights leader and political activist.
• Dwight Moody: an American evangelist and publisher, who founded the Moody Church and Moody Bible Institute.
• Lisa Moodie: a Canadian television journalist and former television meteorologist.

Other surnames

MoodayMoodeMoodie