NameCensus.

UK surname

Goddard

An English occupational surname for a goatherd or keeper of goats, derived from the Middle English "godarde".

In the 1881 census there were 12,016 people recorded with the Goddard surname, ranking it #357 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16,331, ranked #381, down from #357 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Glossop and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, North Dorset and East Hampshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goddard is 17,231 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.9%.

1881 census count

12,016

Ranked #357

Modern count

16,331

2016, ranked #381

Peak year

1999

17,231 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goddard had 12,016 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #357 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 16,331 in 2016, ranked #381.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 16,697 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Goddard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goddard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goddard 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 7,390 #381
1861 historical 7,680 #364
1881 historical 12,016 #357
1891 historical 12,920 #337
1901 historical 15,050 #351
1911 historical 16,697 #287
1997 modern 16,413 #365
1998 modern 17,097 #365
1999 modern 17,231 #361
2000 modern 17,205 #362
2001 modern 16,764 #362
2002 modern 17,063 #363
2003 modern 16,542 #367
2004 modern 16,561 #366
2005 modern 16,163 #367
2006 modern 16,040 #370
2007 modern 16,121 #372
2008 modern 16,181 #375
2009 modern 16,504 #376
2010 modern 16,765 #377
2011 modern 16,565 #376
2012 modern 16,281 #376
2013 modern 16,711 #376
2014 modern 16,719 #377
2015 modern 16,504 #379
2016 modern 16,331 #381

Geography

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Where Goddards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Glossop, Lambeth and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, North Dorset, East Hampshire, Doncaster and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Glossop Derbyshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 015 South Norfolk
2 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
3 East Hampshire 007 East Hampshire
4 Doncaster 031 Doncaster
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 011 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goddard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goddard

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

Goddard 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

Goddard falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Goddard

The surname Goddard originated in England and has its roots in the Old English words 'god' meaning good and 'ard' meaning hardy, brave or vigorous. It was initially an occupational name for a prosperous or well-respected person.

The earliest recorded mentions of the Goddard surname can be traced back to the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The Domesday Book of 1086 lists several individuals with variations of the name, including Godardus, Godart, and Godhard.

During the Middle Ages, the Goddard family established themselves in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire. The name was also associated with several place names, such as Goddards Green in Buckinghamshire and Goddard's Farm in Hampshire.

One of the earliest documented Goddards was William Goddard, who lived in the 12th century and held lands in Wiltshire. Another notable figure was John Goddard, born around 1450, who served as the Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1489.

In the 16th century, Robert Goddard (c. 1500-1570) was a prominent merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London. His grandson, also named Robert Goddard (1558-1625), became a successful sea captain and fought against the Spanish Armada in 1588.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, several Goddards fought on both sides of the conflict. One notable Parliamentarian was Guido Goddard (1609-1688), who served as a colonel in the army of Oliver Cromwell.

In the 18th century, Ambrose Goddard (1743-1824) was a renowned English chemist and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of the steam engine and the manufacturing of gunpowder.

Another famous bearer of the Goddard surname was the pioneering American rocket engineer and physicist, Robert Hutchings Goddard (1882-1945), who is widely regarded as the father of modern rocketry and space flight.

Throughout history, the Goddard family has produced numerous notable individuals across various fields, including politics, military, science, and business, leaving an indelible mark on the rich tapestry of English and American history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goddard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goddard 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. Middlesex leads with 1,847 Goddards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.57x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,847 1.57x
Surrey 1,079 1.89x
Yorkshire 873 0.75x
Hampshire 721 2.99x
Lancashire 713 0.51x
Berkshire 624 7.08x
Suffolk 544 3.80x
Derbyshire 540 2.94x
Wiltshire 510 4.91x
Sussex 437 2.21x
Leicestershire 405 3.11x
Nottinghamshire 384 2.43x
Kent 380 0.95x
Cheshire 362 1.40x
Norfolk 307 1.70x
Warwickshire 278 0.94x
Dorset 226 2.93x
Essex 196 0.85x
Gloucestershire 179 0.78x
Somerset 165 0.87x
Staffordshire 154 0.39x
Devon 142 0.58x
Lincolnshire 118 0.63x
Worcestershire 97 0.63x
Oxfordshire 90 1.24x
Buckinghamshire 87 1.23x
Glamorgan 70 0.34x
Cambridgeshire 66 0.89x
Northamptonshire 65 0.59x
Durham 52 0.15x
Hertfordshire 51 0.63x
Bedfordshire 49 0.81x
Northumberland 31 0.18x
Midlothian 21 0.13x
Cornwall 20 0.15x
Lanarkshire 17 0.04x
Monmouthshire 17 0.20x
Channel Islands 16 0.46x
Rutland 16 1.86x
Ayrshire 12 0.14x
Flintshire 10 0.32x
Renfrewshire 9 0.10x
Angus 7 0.06x
Brecknockshire 7 0.30x
Westmorland 7 0.27x
Denbighshire 6 0.14x
Royal Navy 6 0.43x
Carmarthenshire 5 0.10x
Roxburghshire 5 0.24x
Shropshire 5 0.05x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.03x
Herefordshire 3 0.06x
Buteshire 1 0.14x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.02x
Cardiganshire 1 0.03x
Cumberland 1 0.01x
East Lothian 1 0.06x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.04x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.04x
Perthshire 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. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 158 Goddards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.54x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 158 1.54x
Islington London 154 1.35x
Brighton 152 3.80x
Leicester St Margaret 144 4.53x
Glossop Dale 137 15.91x
St Pancras London 119 1.26x
Kensington London 107 1.64x
Nottingham St Mary 106 2.59x
St Marylebone London 106 1.69x
Ashton Under Lyne 103 3.38x
Hackney London 92 1.40x
Hammersmith London 92 3.18x
Paddington London 87 2.01x
Camberwell 84 1.12x
Shoreditch London 82 1.61x
Bethnal Green London 77 1.51x
St George Hanover Square 75 3.62x
Brightside Bierlow 74 3.24x
Portsea 74 1.57x
Hawley 72 158.73x
Mottram 72 61.30x
Ealing 71 6.76x
Ecclesfield 70 8.20x
Aston 69 0.85x
Reading St Giles 67 7.74x
Battersea 64 1.48x
Chinley Bugsworth 64 132.42x
Oldham 64 1.42x
Frimley 63 38.64x
Tottenham 59 3.15x
Newington 58 1.34x
Birmingham 56 0.57x
Croydon 56 1.76x
Deptford St Paul 54 1.75x
Bromley London 52 2.01x
Dukinfield 50 4.17x
Heaton Norris 49 6.18x
Leicester St Mary 49 4.66x
West Ham 47 0.92x
Bermondsey 46 1.32x
Chapel En Le Frith 46 27.39x
Farnham 46 10.34x
Coventry St Michael 45 4.73x
Sandhurst 45 26.35x
Mile End Old Town London 43 1.72x
Westminster St John 43 3.01x
Nether Hallam 42 2.67x
Sheffield 42 1.13x
Southwark St George Martyr 39 1.65x
Manchester 38 0.61x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 36 3.32x
Almondbury 35 6.22x
Compton 35 183.25x
Hampstead London 35 1.91x
Axminster 34 29.66x
Bradfield 34 7.58x
Fernilee 34 79.55x
Avebury 33 113.05x
Chelsea London 33 0.93x
Cuckfield 33 16.50x
Great Yarmouth 33 2.21x
Ilkeston 33 6.40x
Newbury 33 11.68x
Reading St Mary 33 4.67x
Gorton 32 2.44x
Oadby 32 45.87x
Ecclesall Bierlow 30 1.27x
Stayley 29 9.78x
Yateley 29 63.65x
Benhall 28 111.78x
Greenwich 28 1.50x
Hanworth 28 67.93x
Acton 27 3.92x
Kingston On Thames 27 1.96x
Radford 27 3.36x
Windlesham 27 25.08x
Great Grimsby 26 2.18x
Saxstead 26 191.32x
Snenton 26 4.18x
Sturminster 26 34.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 726
Elizabeth 461
Sarah 416
Ann 231
Ellen 226
Eliza 215
Alice 211
Jane 204
Emma 186
Emily 179
Annie 169
Martha 126
Hannah 115
Louisa 110
Maria 95
Harriet 92
Fanny 91
Caroline 87
Charlotte 82
Edith 80
Kate 70
Florence 66
Clara 65
Lucy 64
Ada 56
Harriett 49
Agnes 47
Anne 45
Rose 44
Susan 44
Catherine 41
Frances 41
Margaret 34
Amelia 32
Sophia 30
Ethel 28
Lydia 28
Amy 27
Julia 27
Gertrude 25
Rebecca 25
Elizth. 24
Esther 23
Ruth 23
Bertha 22
Matilda 22
Anna 21
Susannah 20
Jessie 19
Mabel 19

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 721
John 592
George 494
James 399
Thomas 352
Henry 307
Charles 294
Joseph 186
Alfred 159
Arthur 151
Edward 143
Samuel 132
Frederick 128
Walter 119
Robert 103
Harry 88
Richard 84
Albert 79
Frank 69
Edwin 50
Herbert 50
Ernest 44
David 37
Francis 33
Fred 27
Stephen 26
Benjamin 24
Daniel 24
Edmund 24
Tom 24
Wm. 20
Fredrick 16
Isaac 16
Percy 15
Philip 13
Thos. 13
Fredk. 12
Geo. 11
Sidney 11
Joshua 10
Lewis 10
Matthew 10
Eli 9
Elijah 9
Jno. 9
Mark 9
Amos 8
Chas. 8
Jonathan 8
Willie 8

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Goddard households.

FAQ

Goddard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goddard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12,016 people were recorded with the Goddard surname. That placed it at #357 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goddard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 16,331 in 2016. That gives Goddard a modern rank of #381.

What does the Goddard surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a goatherd or keeper of goats, derived from the Middle English "godarde".

What does the Goddard map show?

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