This unusual name is of early medieval English origin. It is one of the rare group classed as metronymics. This is where the original surname derived from the name of the first bearer's mother, whilst the majority of such surnames are patronymics, that is through the fathers side. The derivation perhaps surprisingly is from Mogg(son), with Mogg being an early nickname form of Megg, itself a short form of Margaret, one of the most popular female names of the Middle Ages in both England and Scotland. The ultimate origin of Margaret is believed to be Persian, and a "borrowing" by the Greeks and later by the Romans, who spelt it as "Margarita". The meaning of the name is "pearl". It was borne by several early Christian female saints, and this was a major contribution to its medieval popularity. Metronymics from this source include Maggs, Magson, Moxson, Moxon, Moxham, Moxom, Moxum and Moxsom. Early examples of the the surname recordings include: John Mokesson in the Poll Tax rolls of the county of Yorkshire in 1379, John Moxson of Calverley, also in Yorkshire, in 1499, whilst examples taken from early surviving church registers of the diocese of Greater London include the christening of Ann Megson at St. Dunstan's in the East, Stepney, on February 22nd 1594; Josias Moxham, a witness at St Mary Abchurch, on January 1st 1667, and Jacob Moxom, a witness at St Martins in the Field, Westminster, on January 26th 1683. The earliest known recording in any form is probably that of Siguuard Mocesum, of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, in the year 1088. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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