UK surname
A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname derived from the Middle High German word "gol" meaning "yellow" or "golden-haired".
In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Goll surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 77, ranked #33,236, down from #23,670 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bebbington, London parishes and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goll is 114 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.0%.
1881 census count
70
Ranked #23,670
Modern count
77
2016, ranked #33,236
Peak year
1891
114 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Goll surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Goll surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 36 | #26,838 |
| 1861 | historical | 74 | #24,370 |
| 1881 | historical | 70 | #23,670 |
| 1891 | historical | 114 | #22,006 |
| 1901 | historical | 89 | #24,154 |
| 1911 | historical | 109 | #21,611 |
| 1997 | modern | 60 | #31,629 |
| 1998 | modern | 59 | #32,027 |
| 1999 | modern | 68 | #31,311 |
| 2000 | modern | 72 | #30,977 |
| 2001 | modern | 66 | #31,394 |
| 2002 | modern | 65 | #31,903 |
| 2003 | modern | 61 | #32,352 |
| 2004 | modern | 58 | #32,880 |
| 2005 | modern | 57 | #33,178 |
| 2006 | modern | 56 | #33,587 |
| 2007 | modern | 58 | #33,731 |
| 2008 | modern | 62 | #33,565 |
| 2009 | modern | 55 | #34,355 |
| 2010 | modern | 62 | #34,069 |
| 2011 | modern | 54 | #34,563 |
| 2012 | modern | 61 | #34,228 |
| 2013 | modern | 66 | #34,003 |
| 2014 | modern | 65 | #34,082 |
| 2015 | modern | 69 | #33,788 |
| 2016 | modern | 77 | #33,236 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bebbington, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bebbington | Cheshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Goll surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Goll, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Goll surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Goll household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Goll is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Goll is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Goll, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GOLL is of German origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "gol," meaning "round" or "bulging." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a nickname for someone with a rotund or stout physique.
In its earliest recorded instances, the name appeared in various forms, including Goll, Gol, and Golle, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in that era. One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Wuerzburg Codex, a 13th-century manuscript from the Franconian region of Germany.
The Goll surname is closely associated with the town of Gollhofen, located in the state of Bavaria, Germany. This place name, which translates to "Goll's homestead," suggests that the surname may have originated from a specific individual or family residing in that area.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the GOLL surname was Hans Goll, a prominent merchant who lived in Nuremburg, Germany, during the 15th century (approximately 1420-1490). Another notable figure was Johann Goll, a German theologian and scholar who lived in the 16th century (1501-1564).
In the 17th century, the GOLL name gained prominence through the works of Johann Georg Goll, a German jurist and legal scholar (1620-1688). His contributions to the field of law and his influential writings helped to establish the GOLL surname as a respected and distinguished name in German society.
The 18th century saw the rise of Johann Valentin Goll, a German painter and engraver (1715-1785), whose artwork and engravings are still celebrated and exhibited in various museums and galleries across Europe.
Another notable bearer of the GOLL surname was Hermann Goll, a German Romantic poet and writer who lived in the 19th century (1807-1876). His literary works, which often explored themes of nature and the human condition, earned him recognition and critical acclaim during his lifetime.
Over the centuries, the GOLL surname has spread beyond its German origins, with descendants and families bearing the name found in various parts of Europe and even in North America. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period in the German-speaking regions of central Europe, where it emerged as a distinctive surname with a rich history and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goll surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Norfolk leads with 30 Golls recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.58x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 30 | 28.58x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 1.90x |
| Lancashire | 9 | 1.11x |
| Worcestershire | 9 | 10.09x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.72x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.20x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.15x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Massingham in Norfolk leads with 11 Golls recorded in 1881 and an index of 5238.10x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Great Massingham | 11 | 5238.10x |
| Kidderminster Borough | 9 | 172.41x |
| St Giles Cripplegate | 9 | 989.01x |
| Little Walsingham | 6 | 2500.00x |
| Weasenham All Sts | 6 | 6666.67x |
| Liverpool | 5 | 10.16x |
| Clenchwarton | 4 | 2500.00x |
| Everton | 4 | 15.49x |
| Mint | 4 | 13333.33x |
| Newington | 3 | 11.90x |
| Ealing | 2 | 32.79x |
| Islington London | 2 | 3.02x |
| East Winch | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Kings Lynn St Margaret | 1 | 31.75x |
| Linthorpe | 1 | 24.75x |
| Southwark St John | 1 | 47.85x |
| Tilney St Lawrence | 1 | 588.24x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Goll surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Goll surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Goll households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 15 |
| Ag Lab | 7 |
| Musician | 2 |
| Provision Dealer | 2 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Ag Labourers Widow | 1 |
| Assistant In Cigarette Factory | 1 |
| Attendant At Institute | 1 |
| Book Keeper | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Butcher Wife | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coffee House Keeper | 1 |
| Coffee House Keeper Wife | 1 |
| Corn Porter | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmakers Ass | 1 |
| General Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Genl Laborer | 1 |
| Nursemaid Servant | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Step Daughter | 1 |
| Worsted Mill Fitter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Goll surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 77 in 2016. That gives Goll a modern rank of #33,236.
A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname derived from the Middle High German word "gol" meaning "yellow" or "golden-haired".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Goll bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.