NameCensus.

UK surname

Goose

A surname derived from the nickname for someone considered silly or foolish.

In the 1881 census there were 643 people recorded with the Goose surname, ranking it #5,543 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 412, ranked #11,627, down from #5,543 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes and Northwold. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Holland, Barnsley and Great Yarmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goose is 719 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.9%.

1881 census count

643

Ranked #5,543

Modern count

412

2016, ranked #11,627

Peak year

1911

719 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goose had 643 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,543 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 412 in 2016, ranked #11,627.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 719 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Goose surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goose surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goose 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 656 #3,955
1861 historical 566 #4,646
1881 historical 643 #5,543
1891 historical 594 #6,436
1901 historical 633 #6,780
1911 historical 719 #5,942
1997 modern 468 #9,769
1998 modern 471 #10,048
1999 modern 473 #10,069
2000 modern 463 #10,200
2001 modern 445 #10,327
2002 modern 450 #10,452
2003 modern 430 #10,669
2004 modern 428 #10,737
2005 modern 421 #10,762
2006 modern 425 #10,729
2007 modern 426 #10,809
2008 modern 427 #10,892
2009 modern 411 #11,480
2010 modern 426 #11,396
2011 modern 423 #11,333
2012 modern 409 #11,547
2013 modern 421 #11,462
2014 modern 416 #11,660
2015 modern 416 #11,561
2016 modern 412 #11,627

Geography

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Where Gooses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes, Northwold, Tharston and Hempnall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Holland, Barnsley and Great Yarmouth. 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 St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju Norfolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Northwold Norfolk
4 Tharston Norfolk
5 Hempnall Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Holland 004 South Holland
2 Barnsley 006 Barnsley
3 Great Yarmouth 002 Great Yarmouth
4 South Holland 002 South Holland
5 Barnsley 008 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goose

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goose

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

Goose 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

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

Meaning and origin of Goose

The surname "GOOSE" is of English origin, and it can be traced back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "gos," which means "goose." It was likely initially a nickname given to someone who had a particular connection with geese, such as a goose keeper or a person with a waddling gait.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname dates back to 1273, when a Richard Gose was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. Another early recording is from 1327, with a John Goos appearing in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are references to several places with names derived from the word "gos," such as Goseworth in Lincolnshire and Goseleia in Nottinghamshire. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname in some cases.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname was John Goos (c. 1335-1408), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Worcestershire in 1379 and 1388.

Another notable figure with the surname "GOOSE" was Sir Thomas Goose (c. 1590-1658), an English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1649 to 1650.

In the literary world, Sir Edmund Gosse (1849-1928) was an English poet, author, and critic who is best known for his autobiographical work "Father and Son" (1907).

The surname "GOOSE" also has connections to the United States. John Goode Goose (1826-1896) was an American businessman and politician who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Another notable American with this surname was John C. Goose (1857-1924), a lawyer and politician from Pennsylvania who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1905 to 1909.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goose families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goose 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. Norfolk leads with 258 Gooses recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.79x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 258 26.79x
Lincolnshire 64 6.39x
Middlesex 55 0.88x
Cambridgeshire 45 11.34x
Yorkshire 40 0.64x
Kent 38 1.78x
Surrey 38 1.25x
Lancashire 25 0.34x
Northumberland 13 1.40x
Essex 12 0.97x
Warwickshire 12 0.76x
Cheshire 10 0.72x
Huntingdonshire 10 8.04x
Hertfordshire 8 1.85x
Cardiganshire 3 1.96x
Hampshire 2 0.16x
Suffolk 2 0.26x
Westmorland 2 1.45x
Berkshire 1 0.21x
Derbyshire 1 0.10x
Durham 1 0.05x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 33 Gooses recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.37x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 33 41.37x
Tharston 20 2500.00x
Hempnall 16 846.56x
Boston 15 49.37x
Wisbech St Mary 15 329.67x
Horsey 13 3023.26x
Islington London 13 2.14x
Birmingham 12 2.28x
Emneth 12 558.14x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 12 192.00x
Castle Acre 10 349.65x
Norwich St Stephen 10 113.12x
St Neots 10 147.93x
Tasburgh 10 1041.67x
Fen Ditton 9 629.37x
Lawford 9 500.00x
Bradfield 8 1632.65x
Metheringham 8 200.00x
Soham 8 93.68x
Ware 8 64.67x
Westminster St James 8 12.43x
Eynsford 7 191.26x
Holy Trinity 7 4.69x
North Walsham 7 100.86x
Shoreditch London 7 2.58x
Smallburgh 7 614.04x
Sutton 7 99.01x
Battersea 6 2.60x
Chertsey 6 30.43x
Lancaster 6 13.57x
Lofthouse 6 64.72x
Lower Kinnerton 6 2500.00x
Newton 6 389.61x
North Seaton 6 153.45x
Rochester St Margaret 6 26.63x
Sevenoaks 6 34.64x
Streatham 6 12.91x
Sutton Stoneferry 6 33.78x
Aslacton 5 769.23x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 4.24x
Erith 5 23.75x
Heigham 5 9.67x
Mile End Old Town London 5 3.75x
Newington 5 2.16x
Norwich St Martin At 5 306.75x
Rothwell 5 39.90x
Stratton St Michael 5 877.19x
Swanton Abbott 5 462.96x
Wood Enderby 5 1388.89x
Bedlington 4 12.86x
Billinghay 4 129.45x
East Dereham 4 32.87x
Frampton 4 210.53x
Higher Booths 4 29.85x
Martham 4 170.21x
Middlesbrough 4 4.95x
Moulton St Michael 4 519.48x
Northwold 4 155.04x
Norwich St Clement 4 35.84x
Stockport Etchells 4 135.59x
Weeting With Broomhill 4 563.38x
Blankney 3 212.77x
Brandon 3 58.03x
Camberwell 3 0.75x
Clapham 3 3.83x
Coltishall 3 146.34x
Harts Grounds 3 1764.71x
Isleworth 3 10.78x
Lambeth 3 0.55x
March 3 22.59x
Morpeth 3 27.37x
Moulton 3 62.24x
Norwich St George Tombland 3 177.51x
Poplar London 3 2.54x
Shoreham 3 98.68x
St George Hanover Square 3 2.72x
St Marylebone London 3 0.90x
Sutterton 3 150.75x
Timberland 3 277.78x
Tottenham 3 3.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 51
Sarah 30
Eliza 22
Emma 16
Alice 14
Elizabeth 14
Ellen 12
Martha 11
Ann 9
Hannah 9
Harriet 8
Jane 7
Caroline 6
Clara 5
Emily 5
Louisa 5
Maria 5
Anna 4
Annie 4
Betsy 4
Frances 4
Sophia 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Esther 3
Ethel 3
Gertrude 3
Kate 3
Margaret 3
Susanna 3
Leah 2
Lillie 2
Lizzie 2
Mercy 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Susann 2
Blanch 1
Bridget 1
C.S. 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Virginia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 47
John 40
George 24
James 20
Robert 19
Thomas 13
Edward 11
Henry 10
Frederick 9
Joseph 7
Arthur 6
Charles 5
Alfred 4
Benjamin 4
Daniel 4
Herbert 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Ambrose 3
Morris 3
Richard 3
Agas 2
Edwin 2
Elijah 2
Ephriam 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Joshua 2
Leonard 2
Levi 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Benj. 1
Dickinson 1
Earnest 1
Ezra 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Geoffrey 1
Hugh 1
Jesse 1
Jonathon 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Robt. 1
Smithee 1
Titus 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Goose surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goose surname in 1881?

In 1881, 643 people were recorded with the Goose surname. That placed it at #5,543 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goose surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 412 in 2016. That gives Goose a modern rank of #11,627.

What does the Goose surname mean?

A surname derived from the nickname for someone considered silly or foolish.

What does the Goose map show?

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