NameCensus.

UK surname

Goodhew

A surname derived from "good" and "hue" referring to a person's pleasant or attractive appearance.

In the 1881 census there were 479 people recorded with the Goodhew surname, ranking it #6,993 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 675, ranked #7,944, down from #6,993 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Bredgar and Sittingbourne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale, Enfield and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goodhew is 762 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.9%.

1881 census count

479

Ranked #6,993

Modern count

675

2016, ranked #7,944

Peak year

1998

762 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goodhew had 479 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,993 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 675 in 2016, ranked #7,944.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 706 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Goodhew surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goodhew surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goodhew 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 284 #7,977
1861 historical 241 #10,192
1881 historical 479 #6,993
1891 historical 581 #6,569
1901 historical 657 #6,587
1911 historical 706 #6,039
1997 modern 735 #6,979
1998 modern 762 #7,016
1999 modern 742 #7,208
2000 modern 749 #7,107
2001 modern 738 #7,073
2002 modern 742 #7,167
2003 modern 719 #7,230
2004 modern 711 #7,305
2005 modern 691 #7,421
2006 modern 677 #7,565
2007 modern 695 #7,467
2008 modern 698 #7,498
2009 modern 715 #7,519
2010 modern 709 #7,710
2011 modern 692 #7,748
2012 modern 705 #7,562
2013 modern 700 #7,725
2014 modern 700 #7,768
2015 modern 679 #7,904
2016 modern 675 #7,944

Geography

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Where Goodhews are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Bredgar, Sittingbourne, Malling, East and Milton next Sittingbourne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale, Enfield and Medway. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Bredgar Kent
3 Sittingbourne Kent
4 Malling, East Kent
5 Milton next Sittingbourne Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 013 Swale
2 Swale 009 Swale
3 Enfield 012 Enfield
4 Swale 008 Swale
5 Medway 001 Medway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goodhew

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goodhew

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Goodhew surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Goodhew household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Goodhew 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

Goodhew is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Goodhew falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Goodhew

The surname GOODHEW has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "god" and "hiew," which together translate to "good hue" or "good color." This likely referred to a person with a healthy, rosy complexion, which was considered a desirable trait in those times.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire from the year 1194, where a person named William Godhewe is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use during the late 12th century in the county of Hertfordshire.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Godhew, Godhewe, and Godhewe in records from counties like Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Berkshire. This indicates that the name was relatively widespread across the southern and central regions of England during that period.

The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 mention a John Godhewe, while the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332 list a William Godhewe. These entries provide evidence of the name's presence in different parts of the country in the early 14th century.

One notable bearer of the surname was Sir John Goodhew, who lived in the 15th century and served as the Treasurer of the Household to King Henry VI of England. He was born in the village of Sutton Valence in Kent and held several important positions during his lifetime.

Another historical figure was Henry Goodhew, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol during the late 16th century. He was born around 1545 and played a significant role in the trade and civic affairs of the city.

In the 17th century, the name Goodhew appeared in various parish records throughout England, indicating its continued presence across the country. For example, the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, mention the name in 1608 and 1626.

During the 18th century, the surname was found in various parts of England, with records showing bearers of the name in counties such as Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Goodhew, a wealthy merchant and landowner born in Oxfordshire in 1720.

The 19th century saw the spread of the name to other parts of the world, as British emigrants carried the surname with them to colonies and settlements. For instance, there are records of individuals named Goodhew in Australia and New Zealand during this period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goodhew families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goodhew 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. Kent leads with 350 Goodhews recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.95x.

County Total Index
Kent 350 21.95x
Middlesex 51 1.09x
Surrey 46 2.02x
Essex 22 2.39x
Lancashire 3 0.05x
Suffolk 2 0.35x
Sussex 2 0.25x
Hampshire 1 0.10x
Northamptonshire 1 0.23x
Somerset 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. Bredgar in Kent leads with 36 Goodhews recorded in 1881 and an index of 3636.36x.

Place Total Index
Bredgar 36 3636.36x
East Malling 26 682.41x
Rotherhithe 20 34.64x
Sevenoaks 19 147.06x
Sittingbourne 19 150.91x
Chatham 17 38.76x
Borden 15 742.57x
Harwich St Nicholas 15 210.67x
Milton In Milton 15 221.24x
Aylesford 14 316.74x
Mile End Old Town London 14 14.08x
Islington London 11 2.43x
Teynham 11 383.28x
Maidstone 10 21.06x
Bobbing 9 1200.00x
Chislehurst 9 105.26x
East Farleigh 9 337.08x
Minster In Sheppey 9 34.08x
Boughton Monchelsea 8 454.55x
Woolwich 8 13.58x
Enfield 7 22.83x
Faversham 7 46.05x
Wouldham 7 344.83x
Camberwell 6 2.01x
Ditton 6 1111.11x
Gillingham 6 18.25x
Rainham 6 136.99x
Clapham 5 8.56x
Deptford St Paul 5 4.07x
Doddington 5 543.48x
Offham 5 877.19x
Snodland 5 110.62x
Barking 4 14.82x
Birling 4 283.69x
Dartford 4 24.54x
Penge 4 13.40x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 4.25x
St Pancras London 4 1.06x
Stockbury 4 404.04x
Swanscombe 4 55.87x
Wrotham 4 75.76x
Boxley 3 122.45x
Canterbury St Gregory 3 142.86x
Canterbury St Paul 3 104.90x
Castleton 3 5.42x
Caterham 3 29.82x
Isleworth 3 14.44x
Newington In Milton 3 180.72x
Poplar London 3 3.40x
Swalecliffe 3 1304.35x
Wormshill 3 882.35x
Allhallows 2 400.00x
Downe 2 227.27x
Hammersmith London 2 1.74x
Horsham 2 13.07x
Ipswich St Mary At Tower 2 158.73x
Kensington London 2 0.77x
Lambeth 2 0.49x
Lidsing 2 3333.33x
Rochester St Margaret 2 11.90x
Sandwich St Peter 2 119.05x
West Malling 2 55.71x
Westminster St Margaret 2 8.87x
Bromley London 1 0.97x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 6.01x
Farnborough 1 43.10x
Frindsbury 1 16.64x
Gravesend 1 7.41x
Higham 1 46.51x
Hollingbourn 1 54.35x
Hougham 1 10.55x
Lewisham 1 1.18x
Leyton Low 1 5.33x
Milton In Gravesend 1 4.18x
Nether Stowey 1 84.75x
South Weald 1 12.66x
Southwark St John 1 7.00x
St Marylebone London 1 0.40x
Stoke Newington London 1 2.75x
Wanstead 1 6.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 14
Eliza 12
Jane 11
Charlotte 9
Alice 7
Ann 7
Ellen 7
Annie 6
Emma 6
Fanny 5
Florence 5
Susan 5
Clara 4
Emily 4
Harriet 4
Harriett 4
Maria 4
Ada 3
Caroline 3
Frances 3
Isabella 3
Lydia 3
Martha 3
Matilda 3
Olive 3
Phillis 3
Shearly 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Blanch 2
Ethel 2
Louise 2
Minnie 2
Moria 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Anna 1
Catherine 1
Elizh.Mary 1
Emely 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Julin 1
Kathleen 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Louisa 1
W. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 28
James 24
William 24
John 22
Thomas 15
Charles 12
Henry 11
Alfred 8
Albert 7
Arthur 6
Harry 5
Richard 5
Amos 4
Ernest 4
Frederick 4
Joseph 4
Walter 4
Abraham 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Stephen 3
Wm. 3
Adam 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Fredk. 2
Horace 2
Jepe 2
Philip 2
Thos. 2
Ambrose 1
Ashley 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
David 1
E. 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Jesse 1
Joe 1
Louis 1
Norman 1
Oliver 1
Phillip 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Goodhew surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goodhew surname in 1881?

In 1881, 479 people were recorded with the Goodhew surname. That placed it at #6,993 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goodhew surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 675 in 2016. That gives Goodhew a modern rank of #7,944.

What does the Goodhew surname mean?

A surname derived from "good" and "hue" referring to a person's pleasant or attractive appearance.

What does the Goodhew map show?

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