NameCensus.

UK surname

Godber

A locational surname derived from a place named Godbert or Godborough in England.

In the 1881 census there were 634 people recorded with the Godber surname, ranking it #5,595 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 868, ranked #6,467, down from #5,595 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Basford, Whittington and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newark and Sherwood, Ashfield and Broxtowe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Godber is 947 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.9%.

1881 census count

634

Ranked #5,595

Modern count

868

2016, ranked #6,467

Peak year

2000

947 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Godber had 634 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,595 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 868 in 2016, ranked #6,467.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 892 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Godber surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Godber surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Godber 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 434 #5,651
1861 historical 474 #5,489
1881 historical 634 #5,595
1891 historical 702 #5,586
1901 historical 818 #5,518
1911 historical 892 #4,994
1997 modern 939 #5,771
1998 modern 942 #5,947
1999 modern 942 #5,985
2000 modern 947 #5,936
2001 modern 916 #5,999
2002 modern 932 #6,026
2003 modern 907 #6,048
2004 modern 891 #6,148
2005 modern 876 #6,149
2006 modern 886 #6,111
2007 modern 883 #6,180
2008 modern 881 #6,236
2009 modern 892 #6,316
2010 modern 911 #6,332
2011 modern 910 #6,273
2012 modern 883 #6,331
2013 modern 895 #6,370
2014 modern 897 #6,389
2015 modern 869 #6,486
2016 modern 868 #6,467

Geography

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Where Godbers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Basford, Whittington, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newark and Sherwood, Ashfield, Broxtowe and Nottingham. 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 Basford Nottinghamshire
2 Whittington Derbyshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newark and Sherwood 001 Newark and Sherwood
2 Ashfield 005 Ashfield
3 Ashfield 004 Ashfield
4 Broxtowe 016 Broxtowe
5 Nottingham 005 Nottingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Godber

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Godber

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Godber surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Godber household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Godber 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

Godber 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

Godber 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 Godber is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Godber

The surname Godber is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the late medieval period, specifically the 13th and 14th centuries. It is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, particularly in the areas around the towns of Huddersfield and Halifax.

The name Godber is thought to be derived from the Old English personal name "Godbeorht," which is a compound of the elements "god" (meaning good) and "beorht" (meaning bright or shining). This name was commonly used during the Anglo-Saxon era and later evolved into various surname forms, including Godber and its variants like Godbar and Godbert.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Godber can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a Robert Godber is listed as a resident of the village of Rastrick, near Halifax. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 14th century.

In the 16th century, records show the presence of Godber families in the nearby town of Huddersfield. For instance, a Richard Godber was recorded as a landowner in the Huddersfield area in 1524. This indicates that the name had gained some prominence and status within the local community by that time.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Godber. One such person was John Godber (1533-1604), who was a renowned clergyman and author from Yorkshire. He served as the Archdeacon of Cleveland and wrote several theological works during the Elizabethan era.

Another prominent figure was William Godber (1773-1848), a businessman and landowner from Yorkshire. He was involved in the textile industry and owned several mills in the area, contributing significantly to the local economy.

In the 19th century, Joseph Godber (1814-1891) gained recognition as a prominent Methodist minister and author. He served as the President of the Methodist Conference in 1881 and wrote several books on religious topics.

Moving into the 20th century, Sir Arthur Godber (1916-2001) was a distinguished British physician who served as the Chief Medical Officer for England from 1960 to 1973. He played a crucial role in the development of public health policies and initiatives during his tenure.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning John Godber (born 1956), a contemporary English playwright and screenwriter. He is known for his works that explore everyday life in northern England, often with a comedic touch.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Godber families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Godber 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 223 Godbers recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.05x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 223 27.05x
Derbyshire 203 21.20x
Yorkshire 83 1.37x
Lancashire 32 0.44x
Leicestershire 19 2.80x
Middlesex 16 0.26x
Surrey 11 0.37x
Lincolnshire 10 1.02x
Hampshire 8 0.64x
Cheshire 7 0.52x
Kent 3 0.14x
Northamptonshire 3 0.52x
Worcestershire 3 0.38x
Essex 2 0.17x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.71x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Rutland 1 2.23x
Staffordshire 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. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 65 Godbers recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.48x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 65 30.48x
Alfreton 53 182.19x
Radford 29 69.25x
Bulwell 19 106.03x
Pentrich 16 296.85x
Maltby In Rotherham 12 710.06x
Snenton 12 37.05x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 11 19.48x
Nether Hallam 11 13.41x
Staveley 11 64.71x
Sheffield 10 5.18x
Annesley 9 290.32x
Derby St Peter 9 29.51x
Killamarsh 9 151.01x
Wilne 9 410.96x
Basford 8 21.05x
Greasley 8 43.01x
Hasland 8 82.05x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 4.41x
Bingham 7 200.00x
Brightside Bierlow 7 5.89x
Bury 7 8.44x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 5.68x
Hucknall Torkard 7 33.49x
Lambeth 7 1.31x
Liverpool 7 1.59x
Loughborough 7 22.75x
Micklefield 7 479.45x
Woodthorpe 7 409.36x
Bolsover 6 125.00x
Cossall 6 1176.47x
Dronfield 6 48.90x
Eckington 6 25.80x
Enfield 6 14.95x
Leicester St Margaret 6 3.63x
Mansfield 6 21.03x
Nuthall 6 194.17x
Skegby 6 118.81x
Sutton In Ashfield 6 33.54x
Whittington 6 45.28x
Duffield 5 66.23x
Lenton 5 25.75x
Ripley 5 42.23x
Scarcliff 5 387.60x
Selston 5 54.29x
Southampton St Mary 5 6.34x
St Martin Lincoln 5 55.13x
Barlborough 4 112.99x
Bermondsey 4 2.20x
Codnor Loscoe 4 52.77x
Hallam 4 655.74x
Holmesfield 4 388.35x
Humberstone 4 71.81x
Kirkby In Ashfield 4 45.35x
Nottingham St Nicholas 4 35.62x
South Normanton 4 59.44x
Southowram 4 21.62x
Wavertree 4 17.22x
Wombwell 4 22.64x
Belper 3 16.16x
Castleton 3 220.59x
Chesterfield 3 8.36x
Clerkenwell London 3 2.08x
Codnor Park 3 133.33x
Hammersmith London 3 1.99x
Hoyland Nether 3 20.19x
Kings Norton 3 4.19x
Monks Coppenhall 3 5.89x
Portsea 3 1.22x
Stoke Albany 3 447.76x
West Derby 3 1.41x
Allhallows 2 303.03x
Chester St Oswald 2 8.18x
Derby St Alkmund 2 6.97x
Gainsborough 2 8.68x
Hyde 2 5.02x
Leicester All Sts 2 15.02x
Long Eaton 2 15.82x
Pilsley 2 63.29x
Standard Hill 2 102.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 50
Sarah 36
Elizabeth 27
Ann 15
Hannah 12
Annie 10
Eliza 10
Emma 10
Harriett 9
Martha 9
Anne 8
Jane 7
Alice 6
Fanny 6
Clara 5
Edith 4
Ellen 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Maria 4
Bertha 3
Emily 3
Frances 3
Ada 2
Amy 2
Beatrice 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Ager 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Drussilla 1
Elisabeth 1
Ethel 1
Eve 1
Helena 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Janie 1
Lavina 1
Liddia 1
Lillian 1
Lilly 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 46
William 41
George 27
James 18
Thomas 17
Samuel 12
Joseph 11
Arthur 10
Edward 10
Henry 10
Frederick 7
Robert 6
Abraham 5
Herbert 5
Charles 4
Geo. 4
Isaac 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Benjamin 3
Francis 3
Richard 3
Byron 2
Ed. 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Jno. 2
Nahum 2
Percy 2
Timothy 2
Wm. 2
Asa 1
Chas. 1
Cicel 1
Clarence 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Gertrude 1
Jesse 1
Jno.W. 1
Joe 1
Jonathan 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Mathew 1
Moses 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Godber surname: questions and answers

How common was the Godber surname in 1881?

In 1881, 634 people were recorded with the Godber surname. That placed it at #5,595 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Godber surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 868 in 2016. That gives Godber a modern rank of #6,467.

What does the Godber surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place named Godbert or Godborough in England.

What does the Godber map show?

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