NameCensus.

UK surname

Goodger

A locative surname potentially referring to someone from a good area or place.

In the 1881 census there were 593 people recorded with the Goodger surname, ranking it #5,894 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 922, ranked #6,187, down from #5,894 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winslow, London parishes and Thornborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aylesbury Vale, Harlow and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goodger is 1,174 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.5%.

1881 census count

593

Ranked #5,894

Modern count

922

2016, ranked #6,187

Peak year

1911

1,174 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goodger had 593 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,894 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 922 in 2016, ranked #6,187.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,174 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Goodger surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goodger surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goodger 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 512 #4,886
1861 historical 580 #4,544
1881 historical 593 #5,894
1891 historical 864 #4,747
1901 historical 954 #4,922
1911 historical 1,174 #3,982
1997 modern 985 #5,570
1998 modern 1,006 #5,647
1999 modern 1,018 #5,633
2000 modern 1,002 #5,677
2001 modern 964 #5,757
2002 modern 970 #5,824
2003 modern 923 #5,961
2004 modern 924 #5,956
2005 modern 899 #6,037
2006 modern 879 #6,142
2007 modern 903 #6,070
2008 modern 911 #6,078
2009 modern 924 #6,131
2010 modern 973 #6,001
2011 modern 971 #5,953
2012 modern 947 #5,994
2013 modern 959 #6,024
2014 modern 942 #6,165
2015 modern 935 #6,151
2016 modern 922 #6,187

Geography

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Where Goodgers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winslow, London parishes, Thornborough and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Aylesbury Vale, Harlow, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Huntingdonshire and Malvern Hills. 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 Winslow Buckinghamshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Thornborough Buckinghamshire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Aylesbury Vale 003 Aylesbury Vale
2 Harlow 008 Harlow
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 016 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Huntingdonshire 017 Huntingdonshire
5 Malvern Hills 011 Malvern Hills

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goodger

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goodger

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Goodger, 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 Goodger surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Goodger 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Goodger 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

Goodger 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

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

Meaning and origin of Goodger

The surname Goodger originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "god" meaning good and "ger" meaning spear, possibly referring to a skilled spearman or soldier. Alternatively, it may have stemmed from a personal name or place name containing a similar root.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Richard le Godger, mentioned in the Wakefield Court Rolls of 1275 in Yorkshire. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also recorded a William Godger in Oxfordshire. These early records suggest the name was present in various regions of England during the medieval period.

The Goodger surname appeared in several historical documents, including the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327, where a John Godger was listed. In the 1379 Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire, a Henry Godgere was recorded. These records provide insight into the name's evolution and spread across different counties.

Notable individuals with the Goodger surname include:

1. John Goodger (c. 1570 - 1625), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Rector of Boxted in Essex. 2. Thomas Goodger (1634 - 1700), a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 17th century. 3. Elizabeth Goodger (1768 - 1854), a British author and poet whose works explored themes of nature and spirituality. 4. William Goodger (1792 - 1867), an English architect known for designing several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas. 5. Henry Goodger (1835 - 1905), a British businessman and philanthropist who established various charitable foundations in his hometown of Manchester.

The name Goodger has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Goodger's Green in Buckinghamshire and Goodger's Farm in Oxfordshire. These locations may have influenced the surname's development or been named after early bearers of the name.

While the Goodger surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and settlement patterns. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval era, reflecting the rich history and evolution of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goodger families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goodger 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 105 Goodgers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.82x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 105 1.82x
Kent 70 3.55x
Buckinghamshire 68 19.44x
Sussex 60 6.15x
Hampshire 43 3.63x
Yorkshire 31 0.54x
Leicestershire 26 4.05x
Cambridgeshire 24 6.55x
Norfolk 21 2.36x
Huntingdonshire 19 16.54x
Warwickshire 19 1.30x
Lincolnshire 17 1.84x
Staffordshire 17 0.87x
Surrey 16 0.57x
Berkshire 15 3.45x
Essex 11 0.96x
Lancashire 10 0.15x
Oxfordshire 6 1.68x
Cumberland 5 1.00x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.64x
Northamptonshire 3 0.55x
Hertfordshire 1 0.25x
Northumberland 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chatteris in Cambridgeshire leads with 18 Goodgers recorded in 1881 and an index of 192.51x.

Place Total Index
Chatteris 18 192.51x
Whaddon 18 2250.00x
Hackney London 15 4.63x
Calverton 14 1284.40x
Funtington 14 636.36x
Sedgley 14 19.30x
Somersham 13 465.95x
Thornborough 13 1130.43x
Botley 11 516.43x
Upwell 11 265.70x
Winslow 11 334.35x
Alton 10 111.86x
Emneth 10 505.05x
Leicester St Margaret 10 6.39x
Plumstead 10 15.20x
West Thurrock 10 263.16x
Cliffe 9 202.25x
Shoreditch London 9 3.59x
St Marylebone London 9 2.91x
Boston 8 28.51x
Fenny Drayton 8 2857.14x
Frindsbury 8 107.53x
Kensington London 8 2.49x
St George Hanover Square 8 7.85x
Wombwell 8 47.88x
Borden 7 280.00x
Hammersmith London 7 4.91x
Shepley 7 221.52x
Sherborne St John 7 546.88x
Storrington 7 261.19x
West Wittering 7 534.35x
Westminster St Margaret 7 25.09x
Basing 6 270.27x
Battersea 6 2.82x
Clerkenwell London 6 4.39x
Clifton On Dunsmore 6 508.47x
Holywell Cum Needingworth 6 416.67x
Oxford St Thomas 6 35.99x
Thakeham 6 555.56x
Tottenham 6 6.51x
Brightside Bierlow 5 4.45x
Canterbury St Gregory 5 192.31x
Chilvers Coton 5 83.33x
High Halstow 5 675.68x
Holbeach 5 48.54x
Hoo 5 190.84x
Littlehampton 5 64.18x
Pulborough 5 139.66x
Sittingbourne 5 32.07x
St Cuthbert W O 5 20.59x
St Luke London 5 5.39x
St Pancras London 5 1.07x
Bentworth 4 360.36x
Birmingham 4 0.82x
Buckingham 4 56.26x
East Swallowfield 4 645.16x
Finchampstead 4 303.03x
Great Claybrooke 4 470.59x
Howden 4 102.83x
Manchester 4 1.30x
North Cray 4 317.46x
Rotherham 4 12.38x
Willesden 4 7.34x
Wiston 4 645.16x
Chelsea London 3 1.72x
Coventry Holy Trinity 3 6.89x
Darlton 3 1000.00x
Erith 3 15.43x
Hambledon 3 100.67x
Higham On The Hill 3 337.08x
Lee 3 10.47x
Mepal 3 400.00x
Northampton St Sepulchre 3 10.84x
Wolverton 3 41.44x
Chatham 2 3.68x
Fulham London 2 2.38x
Horsham 2 10.55x
Selsey 2 111.11x
Tilehurst 2 22.81x
West Derby 2 1.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Sarah 23
Elizabeth 22
Ann 13
Jane 12
Eliza 11
Annie 10
Alice 9
Emily 9
Florence 8
Ellen 7
Emma 7
Fanny 7
Ada 6
Harriett 6
Matilda 5
Caroline 4
Hannah 4
Lucy 4
Martha 4
Charlotte 3
Ethel 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Maud 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Georgiana 2
Julia 2
Mabel 2
Margaret 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Adelaide 1
Amy 1
Celia 1
Eliszabeth 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Helen 1
Isabel 1
Sussanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 48
John 28
Henry 20
Thomas 19
George 17
Charles 15
Alfred 10
Frederick 10
James 10
Arthur 8
Albert 7
Samuel 7
David 6
Edward 6
Harry 6
Joseph 6
Geo. 4
Walter 4
Richard 3
Andrew 2
Anthony 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Mark 2
Samuell 2
Sidney 2
Wallace 2
Clement 1
Dan. 1
Denis 1
Fred 1
Fredick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Thos. 1
H. 1
Herbert 1
Hezekiah 1
Hugh 1
Jesse 1
Jno.Ed. 1
Joel 1
Laban 1
Levi 1
Louis 1
Miles 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Perridge 1
Peter 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Goodger surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goodger surname in 1881?

In 1881, 593 people were recorded with the Goodger surname. That placed it at #5,894 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goodger surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 922 in 2016. That gives Goodger a modern rank of #6,187.

What does the Goodger surname mean?

A locative surname potentially referring to someone from a good area or place.

What does the Goodger map show?

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