NameCensus.

UK surname

Goody

A nickname surname for a pious or virtuous person.

In the 1881 census there were 859 people recorded with the Goody surname, ranking it #4,404 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 943, ranked #6,083, down from #4,404 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Glemsford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ipswich, Hastings and East Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goody is 1,134 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.8%.

1881 census count

859

Ranked #4,404

Modern count

943

2016, ranked #6,083

Peak year

1911

1,134 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goody had 859 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,404 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 943 in 2016, ranked #6,083.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,134 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Goody surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goody surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goody 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 464 #5,343
1861 historical 548 #4,805
1881 historical 859 #4,404
1891 historical 957 #4,323
1901 historical 1,034 #4,625
1911 historical 1,134 #4,107
1997 modern 1,006 #5,474
1998 modern 1,027 #5,552
1999 modern 1,037 #5,542
2000 modern 1,019 #5,594
2001 modern 979 #5,673
2002 modern 998 #5,699
2003 modern 972 #5,725
2004 modern 955 #5,822
2005 modern 920 #5,923
2006 modern 910 #5,987
2007 modern 937 #5,908
2008 modern 962 #5,823
2009 modern 972 #5,891
2010 modern 963 #6,058
2011 modern 940 #6,113
2012 modern 931 #6,090
2013 modern 951 #6,076
2014 modern 962 #6,067
2015 modern 964 #5,996
2016 modern 943 #6,083

Geography

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Where Goodys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Glemsford and Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ipswich, Hastings, East Cambridgeshire, Colchester and Camden. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
4 Glemsford Suffolk
5 Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ipswich 009 Ipswich
2 Hastings 009 Hastings
3 East Cambridgeshire 011 East Cambridgeshire
4 Colchester 017 Colchester
5 Camden 028 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goody

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goody

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Goody is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Goody is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Goody 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 Goody 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 Goody, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Goody

The surname "GOODY" is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the late 16th century. It is derived from the Old English word "gode," meaning "good" or "virtuous." This name was initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone who was considered morally upright or of good character.

The earliest known record of the surname "GOODY" can be found in the parish records of Ealing, Middlesex, England, where a John Goody was documented in 1587. The name also appears in the Hearth Tax returns of 1662 for the county of Hertfordshire, suggesting its presence in various parts of southern England during that period.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname "GOODY" was Thomas Goody (1592-1677), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Chadlington, Oxfordshire. Another prominent figure was Samuel Goody (1696-1764), a British merchant and entrepreneur who established a successful trading company in London.

In the 18th century, the name "GOODY" was found in the records of several English parishes, such as St. Giles Cripplegate in London, where a John Goody was baptized in 1701. The surname also appeared in the parish registers of Berkshire, where a William Goody was recorded in 1726.

One of the most renowned individuals with the surname "GOODY" was Samuel Griswold Goodrich (1793-1860), an American author and publisher better known by his pseudonym, Peter Parley. He wrote numerous educational books for children, which were widely popular in the 19th century.

Another notable figure was Benjamin Goode (1801-1876), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire and later became a Judge of the High Court of Admiralty.

In the 19th century, the surname "GOODY" was found in various parts of the United States, as English immigrants brought the name to the new world. One prominent individual was William Goody (1828-1910), an American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the textile industry.

While the surname "GOODY" may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has since become a well-established family name with a rich history spanning several centuries and various regions of the English-speaking world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goody families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goody 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. Essex leads with 263 Goodys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.84x.

County Total Index
Essex 263 15.84x
Middlesex 170 2.02x
Suffolk 112 10.94x
Surrey 62 1.51x
Kent 39 1.36x
Cambridgeshire 36 6.76x
Yorkshire 32 0.38x
Lancashire 22 0.22x
Hampshire 19 1.10x
Cheshire 13 0.70x
Hertfordshire 13 2.24x
Oxfordshire 13 2.50x
Durham 10 0.40x
Buckinghamshire 9 1.77x
Warwickshire 9 0.42x
Lanarkshire 8 0.29x
Sussex 7 0.49x
Berkshire 6 0.95x
Somerset 5 0.37x
Derbyshire 3 0.23x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.80x
Northamptonshire 3 0.38x
Cornwall 2 0.21x
Royal Navy 2 2.00x
Lincolnshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glemsford in Suffolk leads with 45 Goodys recorded in 1881 and an index of 625.87x.

Place Total Index
Glemsford 45 625.87x
St Pancras London 25 3.69x
Islington London 24 2.94x
Mile End Old Town London 24 13.41x
Tilbury 24 3692.31x
Shoreditch London 23 6.31x
Birch 22 808.82x
Halstead 22 113.64x
Bures St Mary 21 840.00x
Belchamp St Paul 20 980.39x
Lambeth 20 2.73x
Kirtling 17 720.34x
Messing 13 628.02x
Millbrook 13 29.95x
Camberwell 12 2.23x
North Fambridge 12 2926.83x
Witham 12 140.35x
Deptford St Paul 10 4.52x
Garsington 10 568.18x
Hackney London 10 2.12x
Layer Marney 10 1234.57x
Ratcliffe London 10 21.53x
Ridgwell 10 529.10x
Waltham Holy Cross 10 64.47x
Barking 9 18.53x
Barrow In Furness 9 6.63x
Bromley London 9 4.87x
Monk Bretton 9 106.64x
Ware 9 54.18x
Wortham 9 328.47x
Barony 8 1.16x
Birmingham 8 1.13x
Burnham 8 123.46x
Coney Weston 8 1403.51x
East Ham 8 25.97x
Gillingham 8 13.52x
West Ham 8 2.18x
Whittlesey St Mary St 8 43.01x
Brighton 7 2.45x
Colchester St Botolph 7 49.58x
Croydon 7 3.08x
Hyde 7 12.78x
Preston Next Faversham 7 103.86x
Virley 7 2800.00x
Clerkenwell London 6 3.02x
Fingrinhoe 6 638.30x
Hook Malden 6 365.85x
Iveston 6 52.08x
Kensington London 6 1.28x
Marple 6 47.10x
Ramsden Crays 6 923.08x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 5 26.01x
Colchester St Giles 5 30.49x
Colchester St Leonard 5 93.63x
Colchester St Mary 5 326.80x
Danbury 5 177.94x
Dunkerton 5 170.65x
Earley 5 47.57x
Hoyland Nether 5 24.46x
Lewisham 5 3.27x
Reigate Foreign 5 11.27x
St Andrewthe Great 5 72.67x
Stowmarket 5 42.23x
Braintree 4 26.85x
Chelsea London 4 1.58x
Colchester All Sts 4 307.69x
Colchester St Mary At 4 68.03x
Fawley 4 73.13x
Great Abington 4 500.00x
Little Bolton 4 3.12x
Normanby In 4 17.95x
Purleigh 4 161.29x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 2.36x
Castle Hedingham 3 100.33x
Deptford St Nicholas 3 13.18x
Fulham London 3 2.46x
Gomersal 3 7.71x
Newington 3 0.97x
Pannal 3 37.50x
St Giles In Fields London 3 7.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 61
George 31
Charles 30
James 27
John 27
Henry 24
Thomas 15
Alfred 14
Arthur 14
Walter 14
Edward 11
Joseph 10
Albert 9
Samuel 8
David 7
Harry 7
Robert 7
Frederick 5
Isaac 5
Ernest 4
Herbert 4
Jesse 4
Daniel 3
Francis 3
Geo. 3
Owen 3
Wm. 3
Allan 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Horace 2
Hy. 2
Mark 2
Percy 2
Tom 2
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Christopher 1
Cornelus 1
Enoch 1
Ephm. 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Isaiah 1
Jeremiah 1
Jonas 1
Jonathn. 1
Joshua 1

FAQ

Goody surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goody surname in 1881?

In 1881, 859 people were recorded with the Goody surname. That placed it at #4,404 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goody surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 943 in 2016. That gives Goody a modern rank of #6,083.

What does the Goody surname mean?

A nickname surname for a pious or virtuous person.

What does the Goody map show?

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