Moose
A rare surname that may be a spelling variant or nickname form, rather than a long-established standalone family name.
The #9,399 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 89,259 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The historical excerpts do not give a clear dedicated origin for the surname Moose, and none of them is a direct dictionary entry for this name. As a surname, it is most plausibly a variant spelling or altered form related to names like Moss, Moys, or Moos, which can point to a mossy place, a marshy area, or in some cases a short nickname form. Because the evidence here is indirect, the safest conclusion is that Moose is etymologically uncertain without stronger local records.
History
The name is uncommon in the United States and appears much less often than similar surnames such as Moss or Moos. The excerpts suggest possible connections with German or English surname patterns, but they do not establish a single origin. In practice, individual Moose families may have unrelated histories, including later spelling changes after immigration.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because "moose" is also the common North American word for the large deer, the surname is often memorable even though its family-name history is not well documented.
From the historical record
“* Hickery-DickeTy-Dock, The moose ran np the dock * : where are clear reminiscences of Humphrey and Richard« Thus -881”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (alternate scan)