NameCensus.

UK surname

Goodhand

An English surname derived from a complimentary description of the bearer's skilled hands.

In the 1881 census there were 268 people recorded with the Goodhand surname, ranking it #10,542 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 439, ranked #11,007, down from #10,542 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Harborne, Barnetby-le-Wold and Lincoln St Botolph. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, East Lindsey and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goodhand is 483 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.8%.

1881 census count

268

Ranked #10,542

Modern count

439

2016, ranked #11,007

Peak year

2002

483 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goodhand had 268 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,542 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 439 in 2016, ranked #11,007.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 446 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Goodhand surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goodhand surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goodhand 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 135 #13,964
1861 historical 195 #12,263
1881 historical 268 #10,542
1891 historical 312 #10,744
1901 historical 375 #9,917
1911 historical 446 #8,566
1997 modern 446 #10,142
1998 modern 475 #9,982
1999 modern 464 #10,216
2000 modern 468 #10,125
2001 modern 467 #9,965
2002 modern 483 #9,882
2003 modern 476 #9,830
2004 modern 470 #9,958
2005 modern 468 #9,909
2006 modern 461 #10,054
2007 modern 464 #10,113
2008 modern 461 #10,235
2009 modern 467 #10,372
2010 modern 471 #10,510
2011 modern 467 #10,474
2012 modern 445 #10,753
2013 modern 447 #10,885
2014 modern 456 #10,781
2015 modern 447 #10,873
2016 modern 439 #11,007

Geography

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Where Goodhands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Harborne, Barnetby-le-Wold, Lincoln St Botolph, Clee and Spilsby, West Keal, Stickford, Lusby (incl. Lusby allotments). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, East Lindsey, East Riding of Yorkshire and Waveney. 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 Harborne Worcestershire
2 Barnetby-le-Wold Lincolnshire
3 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
4 Clee Lincolnshire
5 Spilsby, West Keal, Stickford, Lusby (incl. Lusby allotments) Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 003 North Lincolnshire
2 North Lincolnshire 008 North Lincolnshire
3 East Lindsey 001 East Lindsey
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 026 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Waveney 004 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goodhand

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goodhand

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

Goodhand is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Goodhand falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Goodhand

The surname GOODHAND is of English origin, dating back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name is derived from the Old English words "gōd" meaning "good" and "hand" referring to a skilled craftsman or worker.

GOODHAND was likely an occupational surname initially given to individuals who were skilled in manual labor or trades that required dexterity and craftsmanship. This could have included professions such as carpenters, blacksmiths, or even scribes known for their precise handwriting.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GOODHAND can be found in the Yorkshire Inquisitions of the late 13th century, where a John Goodhand is mentioned as a landowner in the village of Ripon.

In the 16th century, the name appears in the Nottinghamshire Parish Records, with the birth of William Goodhand in 1587. This entry suggests that the name had spread beyond its northern origins by that time.

During the 17th century, the GOODHAND surname gained prominence in various parts of England. Notably, there is a record of a Robert Goodhand, born in 1634 in Gloucestershire, who served as a soldier in the English Civil War.

The 18th century saw the emergence of several notable individuals bearing the GOODHAND surname. One such figure was Samuel Goodhand, a renowned clockmaker from London, who lived between 1710 and 1788. His intricate clocks were highly sought after by the wealthy and aristocratic circles of the time.

In the 19th century, the name GOODHAND continued to appear in various regions of England. One notable individual was John Goodhand, born in 1822 in Somerset, who became a prominent educator and headmaster of several prestigious schools in the country.

Another significant figure was William Goodhand, born in 1836 in Lincolnshire, who was a renowned architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings, including the Town Hall in Grantham.

As the GOODHAND surname spread across England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the British colonies. However, the majority of historical records and notable individuals with this surname can be traced back to its English origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goodhand families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goodhand 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. Lincolnshire leads with 189 Goodhands recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.39x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 189 45.39x
Yorkshire 32 1.24x
Staffordshire 15 1.71x
Kent 6 0.68x
Warwickshire 6 0.91x
Middlesex 5 0.19x
Lancashire 4 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 4 1.14x
Essex 2 0.39x
Cheshire 1 0.17x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.93x
Surrey 1 0.08x
Sussex 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire leads with 17 Goodhands recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.32x.

Place Total Index
Great Grimsby 17 64.32x
Harborne 15 53.25x
St Swithin Lincoln 12 183.21x
Barnetby Le Wold 11 1447.37x
Cadney 11 2750.00x
Little Cawthorpe 11 7333.33x
Worlaby 9 1730.77x
Flixborough 8 3809.52x
Goxhill 8 776.70x
Willoughby 8 1454.55x
Broomfleet 7 3181.82x
Glentworth 7 2121.21x
Market Rasen 7 300.43x
Muckton 7 7777.78x
Ottringham 7 1372.55x
Redbourne 7 2121.21x
Spilsby 7 530.30x
Gillingham 6 32.75x
Louth 6 62.89x
Tothill 6 15000.00x
Ashby Cum Fenby 5 2083.33x
Aston 5 2.76x
Holy Trinity 5 8.05x
Barton St Mary St Peter 4 519.48x
Bonby 4 1111.11x
Horbury 4 88.69x
St Pancras London 4 1.91x
Stretford 4 23.53x
Wrangle 4 384.62x
St Martin Lincoln 3 77.72x
Brightside Bierlow 2 3.95x
Broughton 2 170.94x
Burwell 2 1428.57x
East Ham 2 20.96x
Elsham 2 444.44x
Hibaldstow 2 281.69x
Hook 2 35.21x
Mansfield 2 16.46x
Middle Rasen 2 253.16x
Scawby 2 144.93x
Waltham 2 303.03x
Wrawby 2 176.99x
Bagmore Burton By 1 357.14x
Belleau 1 1666.67x
Bingham 1 67.11x
Birmingham 1 0.46x
Bishopsoil 1 666.67x
Cabourn 1 625.00x
East Bridgford 1 125.00x
Gayton Le Marsh 1 454.55x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 6.02x
Hundleby 1 178.57x
Huntingdon St John 1 66.67x
Knottingley 1 22.03x
Lambeth 1 0.44x
Mablethorpe 1 175.44x
Normanby 1 769.23x
North Cave Drewton 1 98.04x
North Thoresby 1 149.25x
Prestbury 1 384.62x
Preston 1 13.04x
Saxby In Glanford Brigg 1 344.83x
Sculcoates 1 2.44x
Sibsey 1 106.38x
St Michael Lincoln 1 88.50x
Westminster St John 1 3.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Charles 15
George 15
John 15
William 14
Thomas 7
James 6
Alfred 5
Henry 5
Robert 5
Albert 4
Elijah 4
Joseph 4
Arthur 3
David 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Jno. 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Chas.Henry 1
Christopher 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Edwin 1
Elias 1
Elisha 1
Ely 1
Emanuel 1
Ernest 1
F. 1
Frank 1
Fredk.J. 1
Fredk.Thos. 1
Harrison 1
Hearald 1
Henery 1
Jabez 1
Samuel 1
W.W. 1

FAQ

Goodhand surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goodhand surname in 1881?

In 1881, 268 people were recorded with the Goodhand surname. That placed it at #10,542 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goodhand surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 439 in 2016. That gives Goodhand a modern rank of #11,007.

What does the Goodhand surname mean?

An English surname derived from a complimentary description of the bearer's skilled hands.

What does the Goodhand map show?

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