NameCensus.

UK surname

Gooby

From a term meaning "foolish person", a surname potentially mocking someone's perceived lack of intelligence.

In the 1881 census there were 110 people recorded with the Gooby surname, ranking it #18,695 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 93, ranked #31,945, down from #18,695 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toynton St Peter, Poole St James and Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newham, Maldon and Barking and Dagenham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gooby is 140 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.5%.

1881 census count

110

Ranked #18,695

Modern count

93

2016, ranked #31,945

Peak year

1901

140 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 1998

Key insights

  • Gooby had 110 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,695 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 93 in 2016, ranked #31,945.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 140 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Gooby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gooby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gooby 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 90 #18,317
1861 historical 79 #23,702
1881 historical 110 #18,695
1891 historical 125 #20,713
1901 historical 140 #18,795
1911 historical 120 #20,447
1997 modern 96 #27,490
1998 modern 108 #26,417
1999 modern 115 #25,620
2000 modern 107 #26,700
2001 modern 101 #27,252
2002 modern 100 #27,944
2003 modern 106 #26,775
2004 modern 104 #27,338
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 93 #29,411
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 95 #29,822
2009 modern 91 #30,944
2010 modern 95 #31,000
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 101 #30,078
2013 modern 97 #31,239
2014 modern 97 #31,518
2015 modern 92 #32,075
2016 modern 93 #31,945

Geography

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Where Goobys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toynton St Peter, Poole St James, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, Haddenham and Canford Magna. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newham, Maldon, Barking and Dagenham, East Cambridgeshire and York. 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 Toynton St Peter Lincolnshire
2 Poole St James Dorset
3 Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth Cambridgeshire
4 Haddenham Cambridgeshire
5 Canford Magna Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newham 034 Newham
2 Maldon 004 Maldon
3 Barking and Dagenham 007 Barking and Dagenham
4 East Cambridgeshire 001 East Cambridgeshire
5 York 014 York

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gooby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gooby

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Gooby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Gooby 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Gooby is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gooby is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gooby

The surname Gooby has its origins in the county of Lincolnshire, England, dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English words "gog" meaning a small ravine or valley, and "by" meaning a village or settlement. This suggests the name may have originated from a specific location or place name, potentially referring to someone who hailed from a small village situated in a shallow valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Gogebey." This document was a survey of landholdings in England, providing valuable insight into the prevalence of surnames during that era. Additionally, the Gooby name has been linked to the village of Gokebye, mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey conducted by William the Conqueror.

In the 14th century, records show a Robert de Goggeby, who was a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Lincolnshire. This suggests that the Gooby surname had already established itself as a distinguished name among the local nobility by that time.

During the 16th century, the name appears to have undergone several spelling variations, including Gogeby, Goggeby, and Gougeby, reflecting the fluid nature of surnames in those times. One notable figure from this period was John Gougeby, a merchant and alderman in the city of Lincoln, who lived from 1525 to 1592.

As the centuries progressed, the Gooby surname continued to be found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire. In the 18th century, a prominent figure named Thomas Gooby (1711-1789) served as the vicar of Barrowden in Rutland, leaving a lasting impact on the local community.

Another noteworthy individual was Sir Henry Gooby (1819-1896), a successful businessman and industrialist who made significant contributions to the growth of the textile industry in Lancashire. He was also actively involved in philanthropic endeavors, supporting various charitable causes throughout his lifetime.

It is clear that the Gooby surname has a rich and diverse history, with roots deeply embedded in the English countryside. While its origins may be humble, the name has been carried by individuals who have left their mark across various fields, from business and industry to religion and local governance, spanning multiple centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gooby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gooby 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 42 Goobys recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.80x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 42 61.80x
Middlesex 16 1.49x
Dorset 15 21.30x
Lincolnshire 13 7.58x
Hampshire 7 3.18x
Surrey 7 1.34x
Norfolk 4 2.42x
Essex 2 0.94x
Yorkshire 2 0.19x
Berkshire 1 1.24x
Sussex 1 0.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Littleport in Cambridgeshire leads with 13 Goobys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1000.00x.

Place Total Index
Littleport 13 1000.00x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 10 337.84x
Kinson 9 652.17x
Toynton St Peter 9 7500.00x
St Sepulchre London 8 509.55x
Witchford 7 4375.00x
Camberwell 6 8.75x
Spetisbury 6 3157.89x
Haddenham 5 781.25x
Poplar London 5 24.69x
St Andrewthe Less 5 64.43x
Manthorpe Cum Little 4 305.34x
Bishops Waltham 3 326.09x
South Runcton 3 5000.00x
Stretham 2 408.16x
Titchfield 2 120.48x
West Ham 2 4.28x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 10.09x
Farnborough 1 43.29x
Fulham London 1 6.43x
Hound 1 67.11x
Ilkley 1 57.47x
Lambeth 1 1.07x
Paddington London 1 2.53x
Reading St Mary 1 15.50x
Southery 1 227.27x
Tottenham 1 5.85x
Withyam 1 129.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Ann 4
Elizabeth 4
Annie 3
Kate 3
Ellen 2
Hana 2
Hannah 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Augusta 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Elizebeth 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Isabela 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Letitia 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
Robert 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
John 8
Charles 5
Henry 4
Robert 4
Daniel 3
George 3
Thomas 3
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Thompson 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Gershon 1
Heaugh 1
Horace 1
James 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Lawrence 1
Malancthon 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Gooby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gooby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 110 people were recorded with the Gooby surname. That placed it at #18,695 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gooby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 93 in 2016. That gives Gooby a modern rank of #31,945.

What does the Gooby surname mean?

From a term meaning "foolish person", a surname potentially mocking someone's perceived lack of intelligence.

What does the Gooby map show?

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