NameCensus.

UK surname

Goad

An English occupational surname referring to a goatherd or someone who herds goats.

In the 1881 census there were 606 people recorded with the Goad surname, ranking it #5,789 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 561, ranked #9,145, down from #5,789 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Brixton, Illogan and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, South Somerset and East Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goad is 795 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.4%.

1881 census count

606

Ranked #5,789

Modern count

561

2016, ranked #9,145

Peak year

1911

795 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goad had 606 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,789 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 561 in 2016, ranked #9,145.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 795 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Goad surname distribution map

The map shows where the Goad surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Goad surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goad over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 360 #6,569
1861 historical 300 #8,432
1881 historical 606 #5,789
1891 historical 595 #6,431
1901 historical 729 #6,071
1911 historical 795 #5,497
1997 modern 666 #7,533
1998 modern 676 #7,680
1999 modern 677 #7,715
2000 modern 691 #7,557
2001 modern 654 #7,763
2002 modern 669 #7,776
2003 modern 646 #7,860
2004 modern 634 #7,986
2005 modern 605 #8,227
2006 modern 598 #8,302
2007 modern 590 #8,464
2008 modern 579 #8,636
2009 modern 584 #8,761
2010 modern 589 #8,912
2011 modern 589 #8,814
2012 modern 565 #8,993
2013 modern 567 #9,093
2014 modern 572 #9,102
2015 modern 559 #9,180
2016 modern 561 #9,145

Geography

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Where Goads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Brixton, Illogan, London parishes, Brighton and Yealmpton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, South Somerset, East Cambridgeshire and Ashford. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Brixton Devon
2 Illogan Cornwall
3 London parishes London 3
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Yealmpton Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 009 South Lakeland
2 South Somerset 017 South Somerset
3 East Cambridgeshire 005 East Cambridgeshire
4 Ashford 013 Ashford
5 South Lakeland 010 South Lakeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goad

These lists show first names that appear often with the Goad surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goad

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Goad, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Goad surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Goad household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Goad is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Goad is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Goad falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Goad is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Goad, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Goad

The surname GOAD is believed to have originated in England, deriving from an Old English word 'gad' meaning a goad or stick used for driving cattle. This occupational surname was likely first adopted by someone who worked as a cattle herder or drover.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GOAD surname dates back to the 13th century in Middlesex, England. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of landowners, there is mention of a Walter le Gad. This early spelling variation highlights the name's origins.

During the medieval period, the GOAD name appeared in various records across England. In the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, there is a reference to a John Gode. This spelling variation likely arose due to scribes recording the name phonetically.

The GOAD surname may also have ties to certain place names in England. For instance, the village of Godalming in Surrey is believed to have derived its name from an Old English phrase meaning 'the homestead where goad games were played'.

Notable historical figures bearing the GOAD surname include John Goad (c. 1616-1689), an English clergyman and author who served as the Provost of King's College, Cambridge. Another prominent individual was Thomas Goad (1576-1638), an English theologian and preacher who became the Head of Convocation for the Church of England.

In the 16th century, the GOAD surname can be found in parish records from various counties in England, such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Oxfordshire. For example, in 1564, the baptism of Johanne Goad was recorded in Bungay, Suffolk.

During the 17th century, the GOAD name continued to appear in various English records. One notable figure from this era was Sir Roger Goad (1635-1691), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Yarmouth.

As the GOAD surname spread across England, it also found its way into other parts of the British Isles. In Scotland, records show instances of the name appearing in the 18th century, such as the birth of John Goad in Ayrshire in 1748.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goad families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goad surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 162 Goads recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.06x.

County Total Index
Devon 162 13.06x
Kent 83 4.08x
Cornwall 63 9.34x
Middlesex 58 0.97x
Surrey 49 1.69x
Sussex 47 4.68x
Lancashire 40 0.57x
Westmorland 37 28.25x
Essex 11 0.93x
Leicestershire 9 1.36x
Glamorgan 8 0.77x
Gloucestershire 7 0.60x
Warwickshire 7 0.47x
Dorset 6 1.53x
Hampshire 6 0.49x
Channel Islands 4 2.26x
Durham 4 0.23x
Somerset 3 0.31x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.53x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.28x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x
Wiltshire 1 0.19x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 28 Goads recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.81x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 28 13.81x
Plymouth Charles The 22 40.25x
Plymouth St Andrew 21 21.97x
Brixton 20 1428.57x
Orton 16 408.16x
Brixham 15 104.31x
Clerkenwell London 15 10.66x
Bromley 14 45.18x
Illogan 13 72.75x
Southwark St George Martyr 13 10.84x
Yealmpton 13 684.21x
Brenchley 12 164.84x
Sutton 12 57.12x
East Stonehouse 11 45.01x
Saltash 11 210.33x
Stoke Damerel 11 12.67x
Antony 10 153.37x
Horsemonden 10 336.70x
Loose 10 334.45x
Stainton 10 1250.00x
Barrow In Furness 9 9.36x
Beddington 9 80.14x
Frithelstock 9 782.61x
Islington London 9 1.56x
Leicester St Margaret 9 5.58x
Tonbridge 9 12.27x
West Ham 9 3.46x
Falmouth 8 33.50x
Hailsham 8 131.58x
Plympton Maurice 8 341.88x
Ulverston 8 38.84x
Camberwell 7 1.84x
Winchelsea St Thomas 7 560.00x
Finchley 6 26.26x
Gravesend 6 34.84x
Kensington London 6 1.81x
Lancaster 6 14.26x
Paddington London 6 2.74x
Plympton St Mary 6 83.68x
Plymstock 6 92.31x
Preston 6 3.17x
St Pancras London 6 1.25x
Swansea Town 6 7.05x
Birmingham 5 1.00x
Deptford St Paul 5 3.19x
Kinson 5 65.45x
Redruth 5 26.19x
Strickland Kettle 5 400.00x
Truro St Mary 5 88.18x
Cheltenham 4 4.44x
Dalton In Furness 4 14.65x
Devonport 4 28.05x
Landcross 4 2222.22x
Minster In Sheppey 4 11.87x
Newton Abbot St Mary 4 38.42x
St Marylebone London 4 1.26x
Aldingham 3 127.12x
Barnacre With Bonds 3 160.43x
Dymchurch 3 265.49x
Egham 3 16.83x
Harford 3 810.81x
Kenwyn 3 17.00x
Portsea 3 1.25x
Walcot 3 5.87x
Westbury On Trym 3 7.58x
Aston 2 0.48x
Cardiff St Mary 2 3.50x
Coulsdon 2 37.88x
Goudhurst 2 35.52x
Hartlepool 2 7.94x
Holdenhurst 2 6.24x
Kea 2 39.76x
Shoreham 2 68.97x
Southwark St Saviour 2 6.53x
St Agnes 2 21.16x
St Austell 2 8.67x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 2 23.70x
St Brelade 2 44.05x
St Peter Port 2 6.12x
Stockton On Tees 2 2.34x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Goad surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 32
Elizabeth 25
Sarah 18
Jane 15
Ellen 9
Ann 8
Florence 8
Eliza 7
Emily 7
Fanny 7
Martha 7
Harriet 6
Alice 5
Emma 5
Hannah 5
Agnes 4
Caroline 4
Frances 4
Minnie 4
Amelia 3
Anna 3
Annie 3
Bessie 3
Charlotte 3
Constance 3
Edith 3
Elizth. 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Mabel 3
Margaret 3
Rebecca 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Amy 2
Catherine 2
Elizebeth 2
Grace 2
Isabella 2
Lydia 2
Maria 2
Betsy 1
Elisabeth 1
Eliz.L. 1
Elizebth 1
Helena 1
Heneritta 1
Trina 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Goad surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 47
John 45
George 20
James 20
Charles 17
Thomas 17
Alfred 12
Henry 12
Joseph 11
Frederick 10
Robert 8
Albert 7
Arthur 7
Edwin 7
Samuel 7
Richard 6
Francis 5
Alexander 3
Herbert 3
Stephen 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Andrew 2
Edgar 2
Ernest 2
Fredk. 2
Horace 2
Nicholas 2
Ralph 2
S. 2
Alfey 1
Basil 1
Benjamin 1
Caleb 1
Christopher 1
Cornelius 1
Eber 1
Edith 1
Edmond 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Frances 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Jno. 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Nelson 1
Percy 1
Wm.L. 1

FAQ

Goad surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goad surname in 1881?

In 1881, 606 people were recorded with the Goad surname. That placed it at #5,789 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goad surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 561 in 2016. That gives Goad a modern rank of #9,145.

What does the Goad surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a goatherd or someone who herds goats.

What does the Goad map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Goad bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.