NameCensus.

UK surname

Gooderham

A locational surname indicating someone from the village of Gooderham in Kent, England.

In the 1881 census there were 514 people recorded with the Gooderham surname, ranking it #6,635 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 846, ranked #6,610, up from #6,635 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rickinghall, Superior, London parishes and Stowmarket. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Breckland and South Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gooderham is 859 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.6%.

1881 census count

514

Ranked #6,635

Modern count

846

2016, ranked #6,610

Peak year

2014

859 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gooderham had 514 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,635 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 846 in 2016, ranked #6,610.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 844 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gooderham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gooderham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gooderham 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 356 #6,636
1861 historical 378 #6,761
1881 historical 514 #6,635
1891 historical 712 #5,524
1901 historical 796 #5,676
1911 historical 844 #5,255
1997 modern 813 #6,449
1998 modern 845 #6,469
1999 modern 837 #6,563
2000 modern 821 #6,633
2001 modern 813 #6,560
2002 modern 818 #6,648
2003 modern 760 #6,937
2004 modern 762 #6,944
2005 modern 774 #6,783
2006 modern 774 #6,813
2007 modern 775 #6,873
2008 modern 770 #6,956
2009 modern 788 #6,976
2010 modern 789 #7,107
2011 modern 804 #6,918
2012 modern 801 #6,822
2013 modern 836 #6,716
2014 modern 859 #6,613
2015 modern 856 #6,564
2016 modern 846 #6,610

Geography

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Where Gooderhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rickinghall, Superior, London parishes, Stowmarket, Lambeth and Braiseworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Breckland, South Norfolk and Babergh. 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 Rickinghall, Superior Suffolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Stowmarket Suffolk
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Braiseworth Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 002 Mid Suffolk
2 Breckland 014 Breckland
3 South Norfolk 015 South Norfolk
4 Mid Suffolk 005 Mid Suffolk
5 Babergh 001 Babergh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gooderham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gooderham

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

Gooderham 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gooderham

The surname Gooderham originates from England and dates back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "gōd" meaning "good" and "hām" meaning "homestead" or "dwelling place." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived in a desirable or well-respected home.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the parish registers of St. Dunstan's, Stepney, London, where a William Gooderham was christened in 1588. Another early reference appears in the Hearth Tax Returns of 1674, where a John Gooderham is listed as a resident of Ightham, Kent.

In the late 17th century, the name Gooderham appears in various records in the counties of Kent and Sussex. One notable figure from this period is William Gooderham (1637-1717), a yeoman farmer from Goudhurst, Kent, who left a detailed will and inventory of his possessions.

The 18th and 19th centuries saw the name spread to other parts of England, as well as to Ireland and Scotland. A prominent bearer of the name was James Gooderham (1754-1845), a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Army Gold Cross for his bravery at the Battle of Waterloo.

In the 19th century, several members of the Gooderham family emigrated to Canada. One of the most successful was William Gooderham (1790-1881), who founded the Gooderham and Worts distillery in Toronto, which became one of the largest distilleries in Canada. His son, James Gooderham Worts (1825-1905), continued the family business and was also active in philanthropic endeavors.

Another notable figure from this era was Richard Gooderham (1832-1916), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for York from 1880 to 1895.

In the 20th century, the name continued to be carried by individuals in various fields. Some examples include:

- William Gooderham (1885-1959), a Canadian businessman and philanthropist - Leland Gooderham (1908-1987), a Canadian ice hockey player and coach - Giles Gooderham (1916-2008), a British Army officer and recipient of the Military Cross - Peter Gooderham (born 1939), a British actor and film director

Overall, the surname Gooderham has a rich history spanning several centuries and is rooted in the English countryside, with notable bearers in various professions and walks of life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gooderham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gooderham 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 242 Gooderhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.63x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 242 39.63x
Norfolk 92 11.93x
Middlesex 51 1.02x
Surrey 38 1.56x
Yorkshire 24 0.48x
Kent 14 0.82x
Lancashire 9 0.15x
Essex 7 0.71x
Northamptonshire 7 1.48x
Staffordshire 7 0.41x
Durham 4 0.27x
Leicestershire 4 0.72x
Lincolnshire 4 0.50x
Sussex 4 0.47x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.63x
Devon 2 0.19x
Northumberland 2 0.27x
Derbyshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Braiseworth in Suffolk leads with 23 Gooderhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 8214.29x.

Place Total Index
Braiseworth 23 8214.29x
Eye 22 556.96x
Stowmarket 18 254.96x
Wortham 15 920.25x
Ipswich St Margaret 14 67.57x
Ipswich St Mathew 14 81.82x
Hackney London 12 4.27x
Shoreditch London 11 5.06x
Hempnall 10 662.25x
Monewden 10 2631.58x
Botesdale 9 947.37x
Lambeth 9 2.06x
Lewisham 9 9.87x
Occold 9 1000.00x
Old Buckenham 9 454.55x
Thorndon All Sts 9 818.18x
Bradford 8 6.65x
Camberwell 8 2.50x
Great Yarmouth 8 12.53x
Mellis 8 987.65x
Rickinghall Superior 8 816.33x
Glinton 7 1029.41x
Newington 7 3.78x
Stratton St Michael 7 1555.56x
Willenhall 7 22.08x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 5.95x
Thornham Parva 6 2608.70x
Diss 5 75.64x
Downham 5 769.23x
Earsham 5 476.19x
Heigham 5 12.08x
Saxthorpe 5 877.19x
St George Hanover Square 5 5.66x
Stoke Ash 5 943.40x
Stow Upland 5 248.76x
Uggeshall 5 1162.79x
Wattisham 5 1562.50x
Brome 4 888.89x
Chelsea London 4 2.65x
Clapham 4 6.38x
Claydon 4 439.56x
Deptford St Paul 4 3.03x
Hampstead London 4 5.12x
Horsforth 4 36.73x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 4 70.55x
Ipswich St Nicholas 4 119.05x
Kenninghall 4 188.68x
Leicester St Margaret 4 2.95x
Norwich St Clement 4 44.74x
Richmond 4 11.68x
Sedgeford 4 307.69x
South Elmham St Michael 4 1818.18x
Stockton On Tees 4 5.56x
Stratton St Mary 4 373.83x
Walthamstow 4 11.23x
Barking 3 94.94x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.38x
Debenham 3 147.78x
Edmonton 3 7.43x
Halesworth 3 69.28x
Kirton 3 277.78x
Linthorpe 3 10.12x
Lowestoft 3 10.40x
Newton Flotman 3 612.24x
Old Newton 3 254.24x
Ormesby 3 22.47x
Scole Cum Frenze 3 267.86x
Wakefield 3 7.87x
Arlington 2 198.02x
Bildeston 2 149.25x
Brighton 2 1.17x
Clerkenwell London 2 1.69x
Cockfield 2 125.00x
Kenton 2 454.55x
Manea 2 100.00x
Offton 2 333.33x
Pulham St Mary Magdalen 2 103.63x
Trowse Cum Newton 2 104.71x
West Ham 2 0.92x
Withycombe Rawleigh 2 36.76x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 33
John 25
George 20
Charles 15
James 15
Edward 12
Henry 11
Robert 11
Walter 11
Alfred 10
Frederick 10
Arthur 8
Samuel 7
Harry 5
Thomas 5
Benjamin 4
Francis 4
Herbert 4
Albert 3
Chas. 3
Daniel 3
David 3
Sidney 3
Wm. 3
Amos 2
Frank 2
Johnathan 2
Bromsby 1
C.F. 1
Claud 1
Ed.Wm. 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Elias 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Fredc. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.H. 1
Georg 1
Henery 1
Horace 1
Joseph 1
Josiah 1
Lewis 1
Mary 1
Matthias 1
Mortimer 1
Nathan 1
Percy 1

FAQ

Gooderham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gooderham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 514 people were recorded with the Gooderham surname. That placed it at #6,635 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gooderham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 846 in 2016. That gives Gooderham a modern rank of #6,610.

What does the Gooderham surname mean?

A locational surname indicating someone from the village of Gooderham in Kent, England.

What does the Gooderham map show?

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