This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Moffatt,' a town on the borders of Lanarkshire and Dumfriesshire. Muffitt or Muffet seems to have been an old corruption.

1569. Married — John Buxton and Joane Muffet: St. Thomas the Apostle (London).

1598. — John Hake and Brigett Muffet: ibid.

1651. — Thomas Wallis and Susanna Mufett: St. Dionis Backchurch (London).

1663. — William Moffett and Mary Borne: ibid.

Only one letter differs in these last two entries.

For Moffat, q.v.

(in Duchesne’s list, Muffet: Leland gives it Muschet, which is the more correct version) This family bore Argent two bars between six leopards’ faces Gules, three, two, and one. William Muschet held of the Bishop of Ely in 1165 (Lib. Niger), and was Sheriff of Cambridgeshire 2 Ric. I., as was William “filius John Muschet” 6, 9, n, and 12 Ed. III. Muschetts, a small manor still held under the Bishop of Ely, retains their name. Adam de Muschet, about 1240, held under Robert de Waledom at Great Peatling in Leicestershire (Testa de Nevill). John Musket was Lord of Heccecomb, Somersetshire, in 1316 (Palgrave’s Parl. Writs). Robert Muschett of Gloucestershire and Hertfordshire, Ralph Muskett of Hertfordshire only, in the time of Edward I. (Rot. Hundred.). At the same date “Dominus William Muschett” was a considerable proprietor in Kent, and held land in Huntingdonshire (Ibid). Roger Mushett gave some land at Benney to the Preceptory of Temple Rothley. (Mon. Angli.) In Dorsetshire, John Muskett held in Winterborne- St. Martin 20 Ed. III., and during the same reign Gerard Muschet married Joan, daughter of Ralph Brett, Forester of Blackmore, and sister and heir to another Ralph, but left only a daughter. - Hutchins' Dorset. The name occurs in Scotland from a very early period, but was there used as a familiar form of Montfichet. “The corruption of names, arising from a tendency to abbreviate, and to adopt leading sounds, is conspicuous in the following instances, some of which occur in the Ragman Roll The instruments of homage to Edward I. the “Hammer of the Scots,” now preserved in the State Paper Office, are usually known by the uncouth title of the “Ragman Rolls.”—Montfichet is transformed into Muschet, Montalt into Mouhat or Mowat: Vache into Veitch, Baddeby into Baptic, Vermel into Wermel, Grosseteste into Grozet.”— W. Chambers.

A parish partly in Lanarkshire and partly in Dumfriesshire.

Local. Derived from the town of Moffat, in Dumfriesshire, Scotland.

From the Flemish, Muffat; a personal name.