NameCensus.

UK surname

Godfrey

From the Old French "Godefroy," meaning "peace of God," an ancient Germanic name later adopted by the Normans.

In the 1881 census there were 8,858 people recorded with the Godfrey surname, ranking it #474 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12,354, ranked #529, down from #474 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Oxfordshire, Sedgemoor and South Holland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Godfrey is 13,313 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.5%.

1881 census count

8,858

Ranked #474

Modern count

12,354

2016, ranked #529

Peak year

1999

13,313 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Godfrey had 8,858 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #474 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 12,354 in 2016, ranked #529.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12,244 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Godfrey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Godfrey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Godfrey 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 5,219 #526
1861 historical 5,398 #514
1881 historical 8,858 #474
1891 historical 9,636 #462
1901 historical 11,416 #459
1911 historical 12,244 #400
1997 modern 12,534 #484
1998 modern 13,267 #477
1999 modern 13,313 #478
2000 modern 13,197 #477
2001 modern 12,907 #479
2002 modern 13,023 #486
2003 modern 12,612 #488
2004 modern 12,610 #490
2005 modern 12,253 #501
2006 modern 12,175 #506
2007 modern 12,243 #508
2008 modern 12,229 #514
2009 modern 12,461 #516
2010 modern 12,755 #511
2011 modern 12,590 #512
2012 modern 12,298 #519
2013 modern 12,554 #521
2014 modern 12,610 #520
2015 modern 12,429 #527
2016 modern 12,354 #529

Geography

Back to top

Where Godfreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Oxfordshire, Sedgemoor and South Holland. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Oxfordshire 010 West Oxfordshire
2 West Oxfordshire 008 West Oxfordshire
3 West Oxfordshire 007 West Oxfordshire
4 Sedgemoor 009 Sedgemoor
5 South Holland 008 South Holland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Godfrey

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Godfrey

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

Godfrey is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Godfrey 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 Godfrey 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 Godfrey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Godfrey

The surname Godfrey is of English origin, derived from the ancient Germanic personal name Godafrid, composed of the elements "god" meaning good, and "frid" meaning peace or protection. It was introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066.

The name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, the earliest comprehensive record of landholders in England, indicating its widespread use during the Norman era. Early examples of the surname include Godefrey de Burun, listed in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1166, and Ralph Godefrey, recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls of Shropshire in 1201.

The Godfrey family held estates in various parts of England, including Kent, Warwickshire, and Staffordshire. Notable individuals bearing the name include Sir Edmund Godfrey (1621-1678), a prominent English magistrate who played a key role in exposing the alleged "Popish Plot" against King Charles II.

Another distinguished bearer of the name was Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey (1621-1678), a merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1573. He was instrumental in rebuilding the city after the Great Fire of 1666.

In the literary world, the name is associated with Thomas Godfrey (1736-1763), an American poet and dramatist who is considered one of the first significant writers of Colonial America. His most famous work is the tragic play "The Prince of Parthia."

The Godfrey surname has also been linked to several places in England, such as Godfrey's Cross in Warwickshire and Godfrey's Farm in Kent, reflecting the family's historical landholdings and influence in these regions.

Another notable figure was William Godfrey (1545-1584), an English prelate who served as Bishop of Gloucester and later became the Archbishop of Canterbury, holding this position from 1583 until his death in 1584.

Throughout its history, the Godfrey surname has been subject to various spelling variations, including Godfry, Godfrye, and Godfraye, reflecting the influence of regional dialects and evolving language conventions over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Godfrey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Godfrey 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 1,621 Godfreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.87x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,621 1.87x
Surrey 710 1.68x
Kent 469 1.59x
Essex 455 2.66x
Nottinghamshire 438 3.75x
Yorkshire 436 0.51x
Lancashire 341 0.33x
Devon 339 1.88x
Somerset 332 2.38x
Warwickshire 332 1.52x
Gloucestershire 312 1.84x
Berkshire 258 3.97x
Hertfordshire 241 4.04x
Norfolk 215 1.61x
Bedfordshire 213 4.75x
Oxfordshire 187 3.50x
Derbyshire 184 1.36x
Lincolnshire 148 1.07x
Durham 141 0.55x
Leicestershire 128 1.33x
Suffolk 117 1.11x
Cambridgeshire 114 2.08x
Hampshire 110 0.62x
Buckinghamshire 92 1.76x
Worcestershire 84 0.74x
Sussex 82 0.56x
Northamptonshire 77 0.95x
Glamorgan 74 0.49x
Staffordshire 74 0.25x
Cheshire 66 0.35x
Lanarkshire 53 0.19x
Huntingdonshire 52 3.02x
Midlothian 52 0.45x
Stirlingshire 44 1.38x
Northumberland 41 0.32x
Monmouthshire 30 0.48x
Wiltshire 27 0.35x
Cornwall 24 0.24x
Herefordshire 23 0.65x
Channel Islands 19 0.74x
Roxburghshire 14 0.89x
Royal Navy 12 1.16x
Shropshire 11 0.15x
Westmorland 10 0.53x
Ayrshire 8 0.12x
Rutland 8 1.26x
Angus 7 0.09x
Caernarfonshire 7 0.20x
Dorset 7 0.12x
Perthshire 6 0.15x
Wigtownshire 6 0.52x
Cumberland 5 0.07x
Flintshire 5 0.21x
Isle of Man 4 0.25x
Renfrewshire 4 0.06x
Denbighshire 3 0.09x
Cardiganshire 2 0.09x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.10x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.07x
Brecknockshire 1 0.06x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.14x
Merionethshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 145 Godfreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.73x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 145 1.73x
Lambeth 117 1.55x
Shoreditch London 109 2.90x
Hackney London 106 2.18x
St Pancras London 95 1.36x
St Marylebone London 90 1.95x
Battersea 88 2.76x
Luton 88 11.33x
Kensington London 87 1.81x
Bethnal Green London 76 2.02x
West Ham 75 1.99x
Birmingham 67 0.92x
Great Yarmouth 61 5.53x
Camberwell 60 1.08x
St George Hanover Square 57 3.73x
Tottenham 57 4.13x
Liverpool 56 0.90x
Aston 52 0.86x
Bromley London 52 2.73x
Egham 49 18.91x
Oldham 48 1.45x
Paddington London 48 1.51x
Leamington Priors 47 8.74x
Walthamstow 47 7.64x
Bow London 45 4.08x
Newington 45 1.41x
Clerkenwell London 44 2.15x
Mile End Old Town London 44 2.39x
Portsea 43 1.24x
Blidworth 42 276.68x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 42 2.63x
Carlton 41 30.77x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 41 0.88x
Holy Trinity 41 1.99x
Bristol St George 39 4.96x
Chelsea London 38 1.46x
Nottingham St Mary 38 1.26x
Hornsey 37 3.38x
Clifton 36 83.14x
Glastonbury 36 31.63x
St Luke London 36 2.59x
Bermondsey 35 1.36x
Chertsey 34 12.46x
Ware 33 19.28x
Mansfield 32 7.92x
Street 31 41.09x
Tormoham 31 4.06x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 30 3.75x
Brighton 30 1.02x
Cookham 30 14.80x
Deptford St Paul 30 1.32x
Bristol St Paul In 29 6.41x
Croydon 29 1.24x
North Wingfield 29 47.85x
Coventry St Michael 28 3.99x
Great Coggeshall 28 31.48x
Ottery St Mary 28 23.67x
Hammersmith London 27 1.27x
Westminster St Margaret 27 6.46x
Worksop 27 7.80x
Liscard 26 7.55x
Witney 26 29.06x
Glasgow 25 0.50x
Stoke Newington London 25 3.70x
Bristol St James St Paul 24 4.24x
Ealing 24 3.10x
Hampstead London 24 1.78x
Kingston On Thames 24 2.37x
North Petherton 24 21.34x
Staveley 24 9.97x
Whitechapel London 24 2.81x
Acton 23 4.53x
Clifton 23 2.68x
Larbert 23 12.04x
Limehouse London 23 2.42x
Lydd 23 36.35x
St George In East London 23 2.82x
Stoke Goldington 23 95.99x
Chatham 22 2.71x
Walcot 22 2.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 555
Elizabeth 352
Sarah 327
Eliza 158
Ann 155
Alice 143
Ellen 138
Emily 134
Annie 130
Emma 130
Jane 130
Hannah 75
Louisa 74
Caroline 71
Martha 66
Florence 65
Charlotte 63
Kate 58
Ada 52
Edith 52
Fanny 51
Harriet 48
Margaret 47
Susan 47
Maria 46
Frances 42
Catherine 39
Agnes 38
Lucy 37
Matilda 33
Rose 33
Anne 32
Clara 29
Amelia 28
Minnie 28
Esther 25
Harriett 25
Laura 24
Amy 23
Sophia 22
Elizth. 18
Gertrude 18
Ethel 17
Jessie 17
Rebecca 16
Eleanor 15
Helen 15
Lydia 15
Rosa 15
Julia 14

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 511
John 424
George 360
James 244
Thomas 242
Charles 217
Henry 206
Joseph 130
Arthur 112
Alfred 105
Edward 103
Frederick 90
Robert 90
Samuel 79
Walter 76
Albert 70
Harry 64
Richard 62
Frank 47
Ernest 41
Benjamin 35
Herbert 34
Francis 33
David 28
Edwin 28
Fred 21
Daniel 18
Stephen 18
Wm. 17
Michael 16
Thos. 15
Fredk. 13
Frederic 12
Fredrick 12
Geo. 12
Philip 12
Robt. 12
Tom 12
Isaac 9
Jesse 9
Leonard 9
Mark 9
Percy 9
Reuben 9
Chas. 8
Edmund 8
Jonathan 8
Reginald 7
Willie 7
Andrew 6

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 Godfrey households.

FAQ

Godfrey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Godfrey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8,858 people were recorded with the Godfrey surname. That placed it at #474 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Godfrey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 12,354 in 2016. That gives Godfrey a modern rank of #529.

What does the Godfrey surname mean?

From the Old French "Godefroy," meaning "peace of God," an ancient Germanic name later adopted by the Normans.

What does the Godfrey map show?

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