NameCensus.

UK surname

Godbehere

A locational surname indicating a place where God is revered or worshipped.

In the 1881 census there were 193 people recorded with the Godbehere surname, ranking it #13,144 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 236, ranked #17,470, down from #13,144 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duffield, London parishes and Wirksworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, Doncaster and Bassetlaw.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Godbehere is 285 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.3%.

1881 census count

193

Ranked #13,144

Modern count

236

2016, ranked #17,470

Peak year

1901

285 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Godbehere had 193 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,144 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 236 in 2016, ranked #17,470.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 285 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Godbehere surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Godbehere surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Godbehere 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 86 #18,820
1861 historical 128 #17,375
1881 historical 193 #13,144
1891 historical 258 #12,440
1901 historical 285 #12,063
1911 historical 261 #12,526
1997 modern 228 #16,211
1998 modern 241 #16,065
1999 modern 246 #15,974
2000 modern 240 #16,186
2001 modern 233 #16,260
2002 modern 223 #17,099
2003 modern 219 #17,085
2004 modern 217 #17,276
2005 modern 215 #17,334
2006 modern 220 #17,204
2007 modern 224 #17,193
2008 modern 225 #17,282
2009 modern 235 #17,151
2010 modern 232 #17,657
2011 modern 240 #17,093
2012 modern 238 #17,092
2013 modern 240 #17,251
2014 modern 246 #17,079
2015 modern 240 #17,279
2016 modern 236 #17,470

Geography

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Where Godbeheres are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duffield, London parishes, Wirksworth, Sheffield and Uttoxeter, Checkley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sheffield, Doncaster and Bassetlaw. 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 Duffield Derbyshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Wirksworth Derbyshire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Uttoxeter, Checkley Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 076 Sheffield
2 Doncaster 039 Doncaster
3 Sheffield 056 Sheffield
4 Bassetlaw 001 Bassetlaw
5 Sheffield 065 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Godbehere

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Godbehere

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Godbehere, 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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Godbehere is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Godbehere is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Godbehere falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Godbehere is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

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

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Godbehere

The surname GODBEHERE is of English origin, emerging during the late medieval period, primarily concentrated in the counties of Devon and Somerset in the southwestern region of England. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "god" and "byrig," which translate to "good" and "dwelling" or "town," respectively. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals residing in a desirable or prosperous settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from the late 13th century, where it appears as "Godbyr." Over time, various spellings emerged, such as "Godbeere," "Godbyere," and the modern form, "GODBEHERE." This evolution in spelling was common during the Middle Ages due to the lack of standardized orthography and regional variations in pronunciation.

In the 16th century, records show a William GODBEHERE residing in the parish of Brushford, Somerset. He is mentioned in the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, a document that recorded the names of those who swore allegiance to the Protestant religion during the English Civil War era.

The GODBEHERE name appears to have a connection to the village of Godborough (also spelled Godberew or Godbury) in Somerset, which may have influenced the surname's origin. However, the exact nature of this relationship remains uncertain.

Notable individuals bearing the GODBEHERE surname include:

1. John GODBEHERE (1565-1638), a prominent landowner and merchant in Taunton, Somerset. 2. Richard GODBEHERE (1612-1677), an English clergyman and author of religious texts. 3. Elizabeth GODBEHERE (1670-1732), a philanthropist and benefactor of several charitable causes in Exeter, Devon. 4. Henry GODBEHERE (1795-1867), a successful industrialist and entrepreneur in the textile industry of Lancashire. 5. William GODBEHERE (1829-1908), a celebrated architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London.

While the GODBEHERE surname is relatively uncommon, it maintains a rich history rooted in the English countryside, with its earliest origins dating back to the medieval era. The name's enduring presence serves as a testament to the cultural diversity and linguistic evolution that have shaped the nomenclature of the English people over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Godbehere families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Godbehere 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. Yorkshire leads with 126 Godbeheres recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.75x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 126 6.75x
Derbyshire 34 11.54x
Lincolnshire 16 5.32x
Staffordshire 10 1.57x
Kent 5 0.78x
Cheshire 1 0.24x
Middlesex 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nether Hallam in Yorkshire leads with 39 Godbeheres recorded in 1881 and an index of 154.52x.

Place Total Index
Nether Hallam 39 154.52x
Ecclesall Bierlow 33 86.98x
Sheffield 25 42.09x
Brightside Bierlow 15 40.99x
Uttoxeter 10 307.69x
Belper 7 122.59x
Duffield 7 301.72x
Heeley 7 123.46x
St Mark Lincoln 7 1093.75x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 34.52x
Middletonby Wirksworth 6 2068.97x
Deptford St Paul 5 10.09x
Navenby 5 806.45x
Wirksworth 5 186.57x
Middleton By Wirksworth 3 967.74x
Miningsby In Boston 3 2000.00x
Shottle Postern 3 1764.71x
Holbrook 2 303.03x
Bonsall 1 114.94x
Congleton 1 13.93x
Ecclesfield 1 7.31x
Skirbeck 1 59.17x
St Luke London 1 3.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Sarah 9
Ann 6
Elizabeth 6
Emma 5
Maria 5
Eliza 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Elizth. 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Jane 2
Lucy 2
Adelaide 1
Agnes 1
Bertha 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Gemima 1
Hariett 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Kezia 1
Lavina 1
Lizieh 1
Lizzie 1
Margaret 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 9
George 8
Albert 6
Henry 6
James 4
Joseph 4
Walter 4
Anthony 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Shadrack 3
Thomas 3
Archibald 2
Daniel 2
Frank 2
Thos.Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Benjaman 1
Charles 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredric 1
Herbert 1
Joshua 1
Miller 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Godbehere surname: questions and answers

How common was the Godbehere surname in 1881?

In 1881, 193 people were recorded with the Godbehere surname. That placed it at #13,144 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Godbehere surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 236 in 2016. That gives Godbehere a modern rank of #17,470.

What does the Godbehere surname mean?

A locational surname indicating a place where God is revered or worshipped.

What does the Godbehere map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Godbehere 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.