NameCensus.

UK surname

Goodwill

A surname indicating one's benevolent and kind disposition.

In the 1881 census there were 531 people recorded with the Goodwill surname, ranking it #6,470 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 705, ranked #7,661, down from #6,470 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Norton, Whitby and Sinnington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, Redcar and Cleveland and West Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goodwill is 757 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.8%.

1881 census count

531

Ranked #6,470

Modern count

705

2016, ranked #7,661

Peak year

1911

757 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goodwill had 531 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,470 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 705 in 2016, ranked #7,661.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 757 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Goodwill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goodwill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goodwill 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 377 #6,334
1861 historical 400 #6,412
1881 historical 531 #6,470
1891 historical 604 #6,353
1901 historical 682 #6,407
1911 historical 757 #5,705
1997 modern 686 #7,359
1998 modern 711 #7,389
1999 modern 708 #7,452
2000 modern 689 #7,581
2001 modern 686 #7,479
2002 modern 708 #7,444
2003 modern 691 #7,457
2004 modern 669 #7,682
2005 modern 672 #7,585
2006 modern 666 #7,659
2007 modern 678 #7,633
2008 modern 682 #7,633
2009 modern 718 #7,499
2010 modern 740 #7,448
2011 modern 726 #7,491
2012 modern 696 #7,638
2013 modern 695 #7,763
2014 modern 709 #7,699
2015 modern 697 #7,736
2016 modern 705 #7,661

Geography

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Where Goodwills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Norton, Whitby, Sinnington, Sheriff Hutton and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, Redcar and Cleveland, West Somerset, Pendle and Hambleton. 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 Norton Yorkshire, North Riding
2 Whitby Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Sinnington Yorkshire, North Riding
4 Sheriff Hutton Yorkshire, North Riding
5 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 007 Ryedale
2 Redcar and Cleveland 006 Redcar and Cleveland
3 West Somerset 003 West Somerset
4 Pendle 001 Pendle
5 Hambleton 004 Hambleton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goodwill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goodwill

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Goodwill is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Goodwill 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

Goodwill falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Goodwill

The surname Goodwill is of English origin, derived from the Middle English words "good" and "will," which together mean "good intentions" or "kindness." It first emerged as a descriptive surname in the 13th century, likely referring to someone with a generous or benevolent nature.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Goodwill dates back to 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a man named William Godewill is mentioned. It's believed that this spelling variation arose from the Norman-French influence on the English language during that period.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Godewyll, Godwyll, and Godwylle, as evidenced in records from Essex, Suffolk, and Hertfordshire. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation common during the Middle Ages.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Goodwill was John Goodwill, a English clergyman and scholar who lived in the late 15th century. He was appointed as the Archdeacon of Richmond in 1494 and later became the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, in 1497.

Another significant individual was William Goodwill, an English merchant and politician who served as the Sheriff of London in 1593. He was a prominent figure in the City of London and played a role in the establishment of several charitable institutions.

During the 17th century, the surname Goodwill appeared in various records, including parish registers and wills. One notable example is Thomas Goodwill, a landowner from Gloucestershire, whose will was recorded in 1633.

In the 18th century, the surname Goodwill was found across various parts of England, with concentrations in counties like Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. One prominent individual from this period was Richard Goodwill, a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Goodwill continued to spread throughout different regions of England, with some families migrating to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to other parts of the world, including the United States and Canada.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goodwill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goodwill 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. Yorkshire leads with 375 Goodwills recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.31x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 375 7.31x
Northumberland 46 5.97x
Middlesex 32 0.62x
Durham 30 1.95x
Lancashire 25 0.41x
Warwickshire 6 0.46x
Cheshire 5 0.44x
Glamorgan 5 0.55x
Kent 2 0.11x
Surrey 2 0.08x
Derbyshire 1 0.12x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Kincardineshire 1 1.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Terrington With in Yorkshire leads with 36 Goodwills recorded in 1881 and an index of 3600.00x.

Place Total Index
Terrington With 36 3600.00x
Whitby 16 92.49x
Scarborough 15 32.16x
Westgate 13 27.24x
Hunslet 12 14.99x
Seamer In Scarborough 11 662.65x
Sinnington 11 1964.29x
Falsgrave 9 119.05x
Hovingham 9 849.06x
Brafferton 8 1860.47x
Didsbury 8 98.04x
Hackney London 8 2.75x
Holy Trinity 8 6.48x
Norton In Malton 8 128.62x
Rainhill 8 203.05x
Raskelf 8 941.18x
South Cave 8 467.84x
Bigges Quarter 7 1521.74x
Bishopwearmouth 7 5.29x
Catton 7 2916.67x
Easingwold 7 193.37x
Elswick 7 11.38x
Guisbrough 7 62.39x
Middlesbrough 7 10.47x
Pickering Kingthorpe 7 1206.90x
Welburn In Helmsley 7 3043.48x
Coventry Holy Trinity 6 15.38x
Ganthorpe 6 2727.27x
Hartlepool 6 27.40x
Howsham 6 1935.48x
Kilton 6 779.22x
Liverpool 6 1.61x
Nafferton 6 273.97x
Pontefract 6 54.25x
Ruswarp 6 105.08x
Skelton In Guisbrough 6 43.23x
Sowerby In Thirsk 6 194.17x
Westminster St James 6 11.27x
Altrincham 5 25.03x
Barughs Ambo 5 1086.96x
Helperby 5 442.48x
Limehouse London 5 8.79x
Longbenton 5 15.32x
Merthyr Tydfil 5 5.77x
Pickering 5 77.40x
Sheriff Hutton W 5 342.47x
Wakefield 5 12.69x
York St Lawrence 5 93.46x
Beadlam 4 1481.48x
Bedlington 4 15.55x
Brotton 4 59.70x
Cockerton 4 80.97x
Newton On The Moor 4 975.61x
North Grimston 4 1379.31x
St George Hanover Square 4 4.38x
St Pancras London 4 0.96x
Stockton On Tees 4 5.39x
Whitwood 4 54.87x
Airyholm W Howthrp 3 4285.71x
Bulmer Stittenham 3 526.32x
Cawton 3 2500.00x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 4.50x
Hinderwell 3 68.49x
Hutton Bushell 3 337.08x
Lythe 3 147.06x
Mile End New Town London 3 29.33x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 6.52x
Rawdon 3 49.67x
Strensall 3 379.75x
York St Maurice 3 31.06x
Bradford 2 1.61x
Bridlington 2 17.02x
Clifton In York 2 18.62x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.47x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 5.01x
Newton In Pickering 2 454.55x
Sculcoates 2 2.46x
Sutton Under Whitstone 2 377.36x
Westoe 2 2.29x
York Minster Yard W 2 168.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Elizabeth 26
Jane 23
Ann 18
Sarah 17
Annie 15
Hannah 12
Margaret 9
Alice 7
Anne 5
Isabella 5
Martha 5
Emily 4
Esther 4
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Maria 3
Dorothy 2
Eliza 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Polly 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Agness 1
Anna 1
Barbarh 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Cathrine 1
Catteran 1
Elenor 1
Elinor 1
Elish.A. 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Henryheattie 1
Isabel 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 39
John 29
George 23
Thomas 21
Robert 19
James 15
Richard 10
Arthur 7
Charles 6
Edward 4
Francis 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Henry 3
Herbert 3
Joseph 3
Anthony 2
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Jonathan 2
Mark 2
Nathan 2
Simon 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Earnest 1
Francess 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
G. 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Gustave 1
Harrison 1
Louis 1
Mortimer 1
Nicholas 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Samuel 1
Seth 1
Smith 1
Stephen 1
Stephenson 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Goodwill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goodwill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 531 people were recorded with the Goodwill surname. That placed it at #6,470 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goodwill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 705 in 2016. That gives Goodwill a modern rank of #7,661.

What does the Goodwill surname mean?

A surname indicating one's benevolent and kind disposition.

What does the Goodwill map show?

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