NameCensus.

UK surname

Godbold

A surname derived from an Old English phrase meaning "bold for God" or "brave for God".

In the 1881 census there were 530 people recorded with the Godbold surname, ranking it #6,481 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 903, ranked #6,289, up from #6,481 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Stowmarket and Combs, Little Finborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney, Mid Suffolk and Ipswich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Godbold is 979 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.4%.

1881 census count

530

Ranked #6,481

Modern count

903

2016, ranked #6,289

Peak year

2002

979 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Godbold had 530 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,481 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 903 in 2016, ranked #6,289.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 785 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Godbold surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Godbold surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Godbold 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 289 #7,860
1861 historical 321 #7,938
1881 historical 530 #6,481
1891 historical 524 #7,145
1901 historical 643 #6,698
1911 historical 785 #5,548
1997 modern 923 #5,853
1998 modern 977 #5,784
1999 modern 963 #5,888
2000 modern 942 #5,970
2001 modern 941 #5,865
2002 modern 979 #5,799
2003 modern 938 #5,890
2004 modern 926 #5,947
2005 modern 902 #6,019
2006 modern 896 #6,068
2007 modern 902 #6,074
2008 modern 887 #6,198
2009 modern 916 #6,171
2010 modern 910 #6,335
2011 modern 876 #6,463
2012 modern 876 #6,378
2013 modern 898 #6,353
2014 modern 928 #6,240
2015 modern 910 #6,282
2016 modern 903 #6,289

Geography

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Where Godbolds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Stowmarket, Combs, Little Finborough and Reddenhall, Mendham (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Withersdale (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Metfield (Stradbroke,. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney, Mid Suffolk and Ipswich. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Stowmarket Suffolk
4 Combs, Little Finborough Suffolk
5 Reddenhall, Mendham (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Withersdale (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Metfield (Stradbroke, Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 002 Waveney
2 Mid Suffolk 003 Mid Suffolk
3 Ipswich 015 Ipswich
4 Ipswich 016 Ipswich
5 Waveney 006 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Godbold

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Godbold

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Godbold, 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 Godbold surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Godbold 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Godbold is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Godbold 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

Godbold falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Godbold 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 Godbold, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Godbold

The surname Godbold has its origins in medieval England, originating from the Old English words 'god' meaning 'good' and 'bald' meaning 'bold' or 'brave'. It was likely initially used as a nickname for a courageous or valiant individual.

Records indicate that the name first appeared in the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. One of the earliest known instances of the surname is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as 'Godebold'.

During the Middle Ages, the name was primarily found in the counties of Essex and Suffolk in southeast England. Variations in spelling were common, with forms such as 'Godbolde', 'Godbold', and 'Godbolle' appearing in various historical documents.

Notable individuals bearing the Godbold surname include John Godbold, a 14th-century landowner in Essex, and Thomas Godbold, a prominent merchant and alderman in the town of Colchester in the 16th century (c. 1520 - 1598).

In the 17th century, the Godbold family established itself in the village of Boxted, near Colchester, where they were influential landowners and farmers for several generations. One notable member was Samuel Godbold (1637 - 1718), a wealthy yeoman farmer and church benefactor.

During the English Civil War (1642 - 1651), Captain Richard Godbold (c. 1610 - 1670) served in the Parliamentary forces and was involved in the siege of Colchester in 1648.

In the 18th century, the Godbold family spread to other parts of England, including London and the counties of Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. A prominent figure was William Godbold (1711 - 1790), a successful merchant and banker in London.

As the centuries passed, the name continued to be found primarily in the southeast of England, with some individuals emigrating to the American colonies and later to other parts of the British Empire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Godbold families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Godbold 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. Suffolk leads with 244 Godbolds recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.60x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 244 38.60x
Middlesex 92 1.77x
Surrey 52 2.06x
Norfolk 50 6.27x
Essex 32 3.12x
Sussex 20 2.29x
Kent 17 0.96x
Wiltshire 8 1.74x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.83x
Cheshire 4 0.35x
Hertfordshire 2 0.56x
Bedfordshire 1 0.37x
Cornwall 1 0.17x
Devon 1 0.09x
Northumberland 1 0.13x
Oxfordshire 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 20 Godbolds recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.42x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 20 4.42x
Newington 20 10.43x
Ipswich St Mathew 19 107.28x
Barking 17 56.72x
Islington London 17 3.38x
Blundeston 14 1102.36x
Combs 13 616.11x
Metfield 12 1153.85x
Brighton 11 6.23x
Friern Barnet 11 96.24x
Gorleston 11 68.49x
Great Yarmouth 11 16.64x
St Pancras London 11 2.63x
Stowmarket 11 150.68x
Clapham 10 15.41x
Framlingham 10 222.72x
Lowestoft 10 33.49x
Stoke Newington London 10 24.74x
Feltwell Feltwell Anchor 9 620.69x
Hastings St Mary 9 41.32x
Poplar London 9 9.19x
Dennington 8 571.43x
Harkstead 8 1194.03x
Ipswich St Clement 8 49.78x
Ipswich St Helen 8 106.81x
Oulton 8 373.83x
Rodbourne Cheney 8 225.99x
Sudbury St Gregory 8 157.79x
Beccles 7 68.83x
Bruisyard 7 1666.67x
Chatham 7 14.37x
Leyton Low 7 33.62x
Redenhall 7 225.81x
Sunbury 7 112.36x
Littleport 6 95.54x
Norwich St Julian 6 178.57x
West Ham 6 2.65x
Woodbridge 6 74.26x
Chedgrave 5 757.58x
Reydon 5 877.19x
St Marylebone London 5 1.80x
Wilby 5 602.41x
Badingham 4 333.33x
Blythburgh 4 273.97x
Broome 4 439.56x
Hopton 4 256.41x
Ipswich St Lawrence 4 465.12x
Ipswich St Margaret 4 18.65x
Ipswich St Nicholas 4 114.94x
Kensington London 4 1.39x
Norwich St James 4 63.90x
Paddington London 4 2.10x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 4 30.35x
Barsham 3 555.56x
Cheriton 3 41.55x
Clerkenwell London 3 2.45x
Halesworth 3 66.96x
Hoxne 3 167.60x
Laxfield 3 191.08x
Rumburgh 3 468.75x
Saxstead 3 500.00x
Alderton 2 210.53x
Chelsea London 2 1.28x
Felsham 2 338.98x
Fressingfield 2 98.04x
Hackney London 2 0.69x
Kirkley 2 37.81x
Lee 2 7.78x
Loddon 2 97.56x
Mendham 2 149.25x
Minster In Sheppey 2 6.82x
Nacton 2 217.39x
Shenfield 2 75.19x
Battisford 1 129.87x
Bawdsey 1 129.87x
Hemingstone 1 188.68x
Mutford 1 142.86x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 1 24.94x
Shipmeadow 1 263.16x
Shoreditch London 1 0.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Emma 18
Sarah 15
Alice 14
Emily 14
Ellen 10
Ann 8
Caroline 8
Elizabeth 8
Eliza 7
Jane 7
Maria 7
Annie 6
Louisa 6
Ada 5
Amelia 5
Clara 5
Edith 5
Gertrude 5
Hannah 5
Florence 4
Lucy 4
Rose 4
Fanny 3
Anna 2
Anne 2
Elizh. 2
Esther 2
Grace 2
H. 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Henrietta 2
Hester 2
Jemima 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Miriam 2
Susan 2
Allice 1
Beatrice 1
Bertie 1
Bessie 1
Clar. 1
Clementine 1
Elizth.N. 1
Harriett 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
George 26
Robert 16
John 15
Charles 13
Thomas 13
Henry 12
Edward 9
James 9
Alfred 8
Arthur 8
Herbert 7
Geo. 6
Samuel 6
Albert 5
Frederick 5
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Benjamin 3
Harry 3
Sidney 3
Walter 3
Earnest 2
Fredk. 2
Percy 2
Auther 1
Chas. 1
Chas.C. 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Ellis 1
F.T. 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Fredric 1
G.A.B. 1
Geo 1
Hugh 1
Jhn. 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Kenneth 1
Oscar 1
Oswald 1
Owen 1
Phillip 1
S. 1
Shadrack 1
Simon 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Godbold surname: questions and answers

How common was the Godbold surname in 1881?

In 1881, 530 people were recorded with the Godbold surname. That placed it at #6,481 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Godbold surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 903 in 2016. That gives Godbold a modern rank of #6,289.

What does the Godbold surname mean?

A surname derived from an Old English phrase meaning "bold for God" or "brave for God".

What does the Godbold map show?

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