NameCensus.

UK surname

Goodey

An English surname derived from a nickname for a virtuous or good-natured person.

In the 1881 census there were 702 people recorded with the Goodey surname, ranking it #5,177 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,165, ranked #5,070, up from #5,177 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Barking, London parishes and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Colchester, Basildon and Uttlesford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goodey is 1,333 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.0%.

1881 census count

702

Ranked #5,177

Modern count

1,165

2016, ranked #5,070

Peak year

1998

1,333 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goodey had 702 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,177 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,165 in 2016, ranked #5,070.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,232 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Goodey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goodey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goodey 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 446 #5,521
1861 historical 400 #6,412
1881 historical 702 #5,177
1891 historical 783 #5,126
1901 historical 940 #4,972
1911 historical 1,232 #3,832
1997 modern 1,226 #4,631
1998 modern 1,333 #4,452
1999 modern 1,317 #4,547
2000 modern 1,312 #4,534
2001 modern 1,278 #4,551
2002 modern 1,313 #4,534
2003 modern 1,303 #4,478
2004 modern 1,310 #4,454
2005 modern 1,253 #4,593
2006 modern 1,238 #4,648
2007 modern 1,233 #4,715
2008 modern 1,233 #4,735
2009 modern 1,231 #4,845
2010 modern 1,249 #4,875
2011 modern 1,222 #4,902
2012 modern 1,185 #4,961
2013 modern 1,190 #5,023
2014 modern 1,187 #5,073
2015 modern 1,172 #5,077
2016 modern 1,165 #5,070

Geography

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Where Goodeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Barking, London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Colchester, Basildon, Uttlesford and Havering. 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 Barking Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
4 Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints Hertfordshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Colchester 008 Colchester
2 Basildon 004 Basildon
3 Uttlesford 007 Uttlesford
4 Havering 004 Havering
5 Colchester 022 Colchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goodey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goodey

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Goodey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Goodey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Goodey 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

Goodey 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

Goodey falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Goodey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Goodey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Goodey

The surname Goodey is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated as a nickname or descriptive surname derived from the Old English word "gōd," meaning "good." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone perceived as being of good character or virtuous nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1166, where a Robert Godey is mentioned. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insights into the names and occupations of individuals during that time period.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. Here, a John Godeye is listed as a resident of the area. The variant spelling "Godeye" highlights the fluidity of surnames during the Middle Ages, before standardized spelling conventions were established.

The Goodey surname also found its way into historical records such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which document a William Godey as a taxpayer. These rolls were used to collect taxes and provide insights into the distribution of the name across different regions.

One notable figure bearing the Goodey surname was Sir Henry Goodey (1571-1627), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire. He played a role in the political and social affairs of his time and was knighted by King James I in 1603.

Another individual of note was John Goodey (1592-1664), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the rector of Hertingfordbury in Hertfordshire. He was a prominent figure in the Church of England during the turbulent times of the English Civil War.

In the literary realm, Mary Goodey (1756-1835) was a British author and poet who wrote several works, including "The Monastery of St. Herbert's Isle" and "The Genius of Christianity." Her works reflected the cultural and religious sentiments of her era.

The Goodey surname can also be traced back to various place names in England, such as Goodey's Farm in Somerset and Goodey's Green in Suffolk. These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time.

While the Goodey surname may not be as widespread as some others, it has left its mark on history through individuals who have carried it over the centuries, from landowners and politicians to clergy and authors. The name's origins can be traced back to the Old English concept of goodness, reflecting the enduring values associated with this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goodey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goodey 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. Essex leads with 239 Goodeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.66x.

County Total Index
Essex 239 17.66x
Middlesex 143 2.09x
Surrey 57 1.71x
Berkshire 47 9.13x
Oxfordshire 47 11.10x
Hertfordshire 25 5.29x
Northamptonshire 25 3.88x
Kent 18 0.77x
Gloucestershire 16 1.19x
Yorkshire 16 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 14 3.38x
Huntingdonshire 13 9.55x
Derbyshire 9 0.84x
Suffolk 7 0.84x
Glamorgan 6 0.50x
Hampshire 5 0.36x
Lincolnshire 4 0.36x
Sussex 4 0.35x
Leicestershire 2 0.26x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.23x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 1.22x
Somerset 1 0.09x
Warwickshire 1 0.06x
Worcestershire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Halstead in Essex leads with 69 Goodeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 436.99x.

Place Total Index
Halstead 69 436.99x
Mile End Old Town London 28 19.18x
Barking 21 53.02x
Islington London 21 3.16x
West Ham 21 7.03x
Newington 18 7.11x
Ware 16 118.08x
Chapel 15 1785.71x
Reading St Giles 14 27.72x
Bromley London 13 8.62x
Mountnessing 12 585.37x
Wellingborough 12 37.00x
Bluntisham 11 431.37x
Cheam 11 307.26x
Cheltenham 11 10.60x
Colchester St Botolph 11 95.57x
Dorchester 10 420.17x
Great Baddow 10 207.90x
Littlemore 10 854.70x
Aspenden 9 616.44x
Fingest 9 1153.85x
Hillingdon 9 41.17x
Bensington 8 296.30x
Bethnal Green London 8 2.69x
Bocking 8 98.28x
Clerkenwell London 8 4.94x
Hatfield Broad Oak 8 175.05x
Monk Bretton 8 116.28x
Reading St Mary 8 19.40x
St George Hanover Square 8 6.62x
St Pancras London 8 1.45x
Woolwich 8 9.26x
Braintree 7 57.61x
Fordham 7 424.24x
Kensington London 7 1.84x
Northampton St Giles 7 28.49x
Oxford St Peter In East 7 429.45x
Springfield 7 118.04x
Steventon 7 322.58x
Cookham 6 37.38x
Deptford St Paul 6 3.32x
Forest Gate 6 319.15x
Hackney London 6 1.56x
Llanwonno 6 13.99x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 4.35x
Castle Hedingham 5 204.92x
Charlton Kings 5 53.71x
Cholsey 5 122.85x
Limehouse London 5 6.64x
Litchurch 5 11.57x
Clee With Weelsby 4 16.67x
Croydon 4 2.16x
Derby St Werburgh 4 6.45x
Finchley 4 15.21x
Great Coggeshall 4 56.82x
Ipswich St Helen 4 40.40x
Linthorpe 4 9.86x
Maldon All Sts 4 149.25x
Northampton St Sepulchre 4 12.19x
Battersea 3 1.19x
Camberwell 3 0.68x
Friern Barnet 3 19.85x
Lancing 3 94.34x
Langley Marish 3 58.94x
Layer Breton 3 434.78x
Mile End New Town London 3 22.14x
Millbrook 3 8.47x
Oxford St Clement 3 28.06x
Paddington London 3 1.19x
Richmond 3 6.41x
Shoreditch London 3 1.01x
South Hinksey 3 133.93x
Sudbury St Peter 3 65.50x
Witham 3 43.04x
Brightwell 2 137.93x
Colchester St Mary 2 160.00x
Henley On Thames 2 23.04x
Kelvedon 2 55.40x
Pidley Cum Fenton 2 190.48x
Wilton In Guisbrough 2 65.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 37
Sarah 32
Elizabeth 30
Alice 21
Emma 19
Eliza 11
Florence 11
Jane 11
Emily 10
Ann 9
Annie 9
Maria 9
Ellen 8
Hannah 7
Louisa 7
Ada 6
Charlotte 5
Sophia 5
Susan 5
Caroline 4
Harriet 4
Matilda 4
Rose 4
Selina 4
Amelia 3
Clara 3
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Elizth. 3
Jessie 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Henrietta 2
Julia 2
Keziah 2
Laura 2
Lillie 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Rhoda 2
Ruth 2
Susannah 2
Blendia 1
Emely 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
Thomas 32
John 28
James 26
Charles 21
George 19
Henry 13
Alfred 12
Arthur 11
Joseph 11
Frederick 10
Edward 8
Samuel 7
Wm. 7
Frank 5
Harry 5
Albert 4
Richard 4
Edwin 3
Golden 3
Herbert 3
Mark 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Alan 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Elijah 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Jesse 2
Jno. 2
Clifford 1
Daniel 1
Eric 1
Ernest 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.C. 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Jabez 1
Jacob 1
Jeffrey 1
Jeremiah 1
Jess 1
Jessie 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Lewis 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Goodey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goodey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 702 people were recorded with the Goodey surname. That placed it at #5,177 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goodey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,165 in 2016. That gives Goodey a modern rank of #5,070.

What does the Goodey surname mean?

An English surname derived from a nickname for a virtuous or good-natured person.

What does the Goodey map show?

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