NameCensus.

UK surname

Goodland

A locational surname derived from a place or land considered good or prosperous.

In the 1881 census there were 371 people recorded with the Goodland surname, ranking it #8,417 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 474, ranked #10,385, down from #8,417 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Clifton and Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, West Dorset and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goodland is 613 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.8%.

1881 census count

371

Ranked #8,417

Modern count

474

2016, ranked #10,385

Peak year

1911

613 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goodland had 371 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,417 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 474 in 2016, ranked #10,385.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 613 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Goodland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goodland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goodland 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 334 #7,001
1861 historical 376 #6,792
1881 historical 371 #8,417
1891 historical 506 #7,356
1901 historical 502 #8,032
1911 historical 613 #6,725
1997 modern 547 #8,694
1998 modern 574 #8,631
1999 modern 588 #8,561
2000 modern 554 #8,898
2001 modern 510 #9,312
2002 modern 526 #9,300
2003 modern 512 #9,328
2004 modern 496 #9,566
2005 modern 481 #9,702
2006 modern 462 #10,037
2007 modern 467 #10,053
2008 modern 475 #10,029
2009 modern 476 #10,227
2010 modern 490 #10,211
2011 modern 502 #9,923
2012 modern 477 #10,205
2013 modern 489 #10,195
2014 modern 479 #10,417
2015 modern 465 #10,572
2016 modern 474 #10,385

Geography

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Where Goodlands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Clifton, Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington, Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity and Tiverton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, West Dorset and Mendip. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Clifton Gloucestershire
3 Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington Somerset
4 Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity Somerset
5 Tiverton Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 001 South Somerset
2 West Dorset 002 West Dorset
3 Mendip 011 Mendip
4 South Somerset 006 South Somerset
5 South Somerset 023 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goodland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goodland

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Goodland is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Goodland is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Goodland 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 Goodland is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Goodland

The surname Goodland is of English origin and is believed to have derived from a geographic location or place name. It is thought to have originated in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Goodland can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a William de Godlond. This suggests that the name may have originally been spelled with a 'd' instead of a 'g', and was likely derived from a place name containing the Old English word 'god', meaning 'good', and 'land', meaning 'land' or 'estate'.

The name Goodland is believed to have originated in various parts of England, particularly in areas where place names containing elements like 'Godland' or 'Godlond' existed. Some of these places may have included areas in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Essex, among others.

In the 14th century, records show a Thomas de Godlond mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1346. This further supports the theory that the name originated from a place name and was initially spelled with a 'd'.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Goodland was John Goodland, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, around 1520. He was a prominent landowner and member of the local gentry.

Another notable figure was William Goodland (1566-1627), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Rector of Hartfield in Sussex and later became a canon of Chichester Cathedral.

In the 17th century, a Richard Goodland (1638-1718) was a successful merchant and ship owner based in Bristol, England. He played a significant role in the city's trade and maritime industry.

During the 18th century, Mary Goodland (1737-1807) was a well-known painter and miniaturist from London, whose works were exhibited at the Royal Academy.

In the 19th century, Sir Walter Goodland (1828-1912) was a British politician and Member of Parliament for Huntingdonshire from 1874 to 1895. He was also a prominent figure in local government and served as the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goodland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goodland 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. Somerset leads with 195 Goodlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.12x.

County Total Index
Somerset 195 33.12x
Gloucestershire 37 5.16x
Devon 35 4.60x
Middlesex 25 0.68x
Surrey 15 0.84x
Leicestershire 10 2.47x
Cornwall 9 2.17x
Derbyshire 9 1.57x
Dorset 7 2.92x
Cheshire 5 0.62x
Glamorgan 5 0.79x
Channel Islands 4 3.69x
Lancashire 4 0.09x
Wiltshire 4 1.24x
Bedfordshire 2 1.06x
Monmouthshire 2 0.76x
Sussex 2 0.32x
Warwickshire 2 0.22x
Hampshire 1 0.13x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clifton in Gloucestershire leads with 16 Goodlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.11x.

Place Total Index
Clifton 16 44.11x
Taunton St James 16 186.26x
Tiverton 15 114.33x
Chew Magna 13 631.07x
Ilton 13 2363.64x
North Petherton 10 210.53x
West Monkton 10 769.23x
Bruton 9 387.93x
Chard 9 126.23x
Eckington 9 64.70x
Bridgewater 8 50.06x
Bristol St Paul In 8 41.86x
Lovington 8 3200.00x
Walcot 8 25.51x
Glastonbury 7 145.53x
Merriott 7 406.98x
Withycombe Rawleigh 7 176.32x
Acton 6 27.99x
Brislington 6 545.45x
East Pennard 6 789.47x
North Curry 6 300.00x
Walton On Thames 6 73.35x
Bristol All Sts 5 2941.18x
Castle Cary 5 194.55x
Lambeth 5 1.57x
Leicester St Margaret 5 5.06x
Otterford 5 980.39x
Redruth 5 42.70x
Sproxton 5 1190.48x
Tranmere 5 16.85x
Ashill 4 677.97x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.52x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 11.60x
Box 4 144.93x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 5.92x
Halberton 4 225.99x
Ilfracombe 4 51.02x
Kewstoke 4 430.11x
Llandaff 4 18.88x
Sherborne 4 56.58x
St Pancras London 4 1.36x
St Peter Port 4 19.95x
Talland 4 408.16x
Dinder 3 1153.85x
Isle Abbotts 3 681.82x
Shoreditch London 3 1.89x
Aston 2 0.79x
Badgworth 2 571.43x
Bedminster 2 3.61x
Bedwellty 2 4.28x
Chelsea London 2 1.81x
Creech St Michael 2 136.05x
Curry Rivell 2 101.52x
Flax Bourton 2 909.09x
Hinton St George 2 235.29x
Lopen 2 454.55x
Souldrop 2 666.67x
South Petherton 2 65.79x
Stoodleigh 2 363.64x
Taunton St Mary 2 18.50x
Tormoham 2 6.21x
Wambrook 2 606.06x
Westbury On Trym 2 8.23x
Weston Super Mare 2 13.45x
Yatton 2 87.34x
Binegar 1 303.03x
Bristol St Augustine 1 8.64x
Chardstock 1 60.24x
Charlton Musgrove 1 196.08x
Horsham 1 8.35x
Islington London 1 0.28x
Kensington London 1 0.49x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.34x
Martock 1 26.11x
Puriton 1 105.26x
Southwark St Thomas 1 102.04x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 21.10x
Wincanton 1 33.00x
Wiveliscombe 1 30.49x
Wolborough 1 10.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 20
John 15
Charles 14
Edward 8
James 8
Thomas 8
Henry 7
George 6
Herbert 6
Joseph 6
Benjamin 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Samuel 4
Daniel 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Albert 2
Caleb 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Gillmore 2
Harry 2
Job 2
Mark 2
Archibald 1
Daniell 1
Earnest 1
Edmd.Chas. 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Godfrey 1
Henery 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Jas.Hen. 1
Jonas 1
Joshua 1
Lawrence 1
Levi 1
Milo 1
Orlando 1
Percy 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Roger 1
Samson 1
Silas 1

FAQ

Goodland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goodland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 371 people were recorded with the Goodland surname. That placed it at #8,417 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goodland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 474 in 2016. That gives Goodland a modern rank of #10,385.

What does the Goodland surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place or land considered good or prosperous.

What does the Goodland map show?

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