Moulds (surname)

The surname Moulds is of English origin, derived from several possible sources. It can be a topographic name for someone who lived by a place where mould was found or extracted, such as a patch of fertile soil or a quarry for clay or other mouldable material. The word "mould" comes from the Old English word "molde," meaning earth or soil.

Alternatively, the name may be occupational, referring to someone who worked with moulds in the sense of shaping or forming things. This could include moulders of metal, plaster, or clay.

Finally, in some cases, the surname may be a variant of other similar-sounding names.

Records of the surname date back to the medieval period in England. Variations in spelling may include Mold, Mould, Moulden, and Moulding.

The distribution of the surname is primarily within the United Kingdom, particularly in England, with lesser concentrations in other English-speaking countries. Genealogical research can provide more specific information on the history of individual families bearing the Moulds surname.