NameCensus.

UK surname

Goodheart

A surname indicating a kind and generous person with a good heart.

In the 1881 census there were 64 people recorded with the Goodheart surname, ranking it #24,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, down from #24,561 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Elmbridge and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goodheart is 105 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.1%.

1881 census count

64

Ranked #24,561

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

2014

105 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goodheart had 64 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,561 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 90 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Goodheart surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goodheart surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goodheart 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 34 #27,194
1861 historical 47 #28,023
1881 historical 64 #24,561
1891 historical 89 #25,542
1901 historical 90 #24,021
1911 historical 84 #24,442
1997 modern 83 #29,216
1998 modern 83 #29,638
1999 modern 84 #29,700
2000 modern 99 #27,845
2001 modern 96 #27,976
2002 modern 94 #28,797
2003 modern 88 #29,506
2004 modern 90 #29,481
2005 modern 89 #29,683
2006 modern 95 #29,113
2007 modern 95 #29,493
2008 modern 96 #29,654
2009 modern 95 #30,393
2010 modern 90 #31,621
2011 modern 91 #31,442
2012 modern 97 #30,798
2013 modern 102 #30,415
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Goodhearts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swindon, Elmbridge, Liverpool, Wirral and Shropshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 008 Swindon
2 Elmbridge 003 Elmbridge
3 Liverpool 028 Liverpool
4 Wirral 036 Wirral
5 Shropshire 004 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goodheart

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goodheart

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Goodheart surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Goodheart 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 often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Goodheart is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Goodheart 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

Goodheart falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Goodheart 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 Goodheart, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Goodheart

The surname GOODHEART originated in England during the late medieval period. It is a descriptive surname derived from the Middle English words "good" and "herte," meaning a person with a kind, compassionate nature or a good heart. The name was likely first adopted as a nickname or a descriptive term before becoming a hereditary surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GOODHEART surname appears in the 1379 Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire, where a Robert Goodhert is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the transition from the descriptive phrase to a fixed surname.

During the 16th century, the GOODHEART surname can be found in various parish records across England. In 1568, a John Goodheart was recorded in the parish registers of St. Mary's Church in Suffolk. Another notable early record is that of William Goodheart, whose birth was registered in the parish of St. Giles in London in 1591.

As the name spread across England, variations in spelling emerged. In the 17th century, the surname appeared as Goodharte, Goodhart, and Goodhert in various historical documents and records.

One notable bearer of the GOODHEART surname was Sir John Goodheart (1592-1664), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire during the English Civil War era. He was a staunch Royalist and supported King Charles I during the conflict.

Another historical figure with this surname was Samuel Goodheart (1683-1754), a renowned English clockmaker and inventor. He is credited with developing several innovations in clock design and is regarded as a pioneer in the field of horology.

In the 18th century, the GOODHEART surname was also found in Scotland, where it was sometimes recorded as Guidhert or Guidheart, reflecting the Scottish pronunciation and spelling variations.

One notable Scottish bearer of the name was Robert Goodheart (1721-1799), a successful merchant and landowner from Edinburgh. He played a significant role in the city's economic development during the Scottish Enlightenment period.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Goodheart (1766-1842), an English author and poet. She published several volumes of poetry and was known for her descriptive writing style, which often celebrated the beauty of nature and the English countryside.

Over the centuries, the GOODHEART surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, academics, artists, and military personnel, further adding to its rich historical legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goodheart families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goodheart 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 52 Goodhearts recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.33x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 52 8.33x
Somerset 6 5.97x
Buckinghamshire 5 13.25x
Surrey 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 12 Goodhearts recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.83x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 12 19.83x
Shoreditch London 11 40.65x
Hackney London 8 22.86x
St Luke London 7 69.93x
Evercreech 6 2500.00x
Clerkenwell London 5 33.92x
Datchet 5 1923.08x
St Sepulchre London 3 329.67x
Bromley London 2 14.57x
St Botolph Aldgate London 2 155.04x
Newington 1 4.34x
St Bartholomew Great 1 175.44x
St Vedast Foster Lane 1 2500.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Emily 4
Emma 3
Jane 3
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
C. 1
Caroline 1
Christina 1
Esther 1
Grace 1
Henrietta 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lillian 1
M. 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Phoebe 1
S. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 4
Frederick 3
James 3
John 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Stephen 2
Bertie 1
Henry 1
Jacob 1
Leonard 1
Richard 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Goodheart households.

FAQ

Goodheart surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goodheart surname in 1881?

In 1881, 64 people were recorded with the Goodheart surname. That placed it at #24,561 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goodheart surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Goodheart a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Goodheart surname mean?

A surname indicating a kind and generous person with a good heart.

What does the Goodheart map show?

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