NameCensus.

UK surname

Goward

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "homeward path."

In the 1881 census there were 262 people recorded with the Goward surname, ranking it #10,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 420, ranked #11,414, down from #10,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Weston, Roxwell and Melton, Little. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Newark and Sherwood and South Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goward is 457 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.3%.

1881 census count

262

Ranked #10,721

Modern count

420

2016, ranked #11,414

Peak year

1998

457 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goward had 262 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 420 in 2016, ranked #11,414.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 371 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Goward surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goward surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Goward 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 249 #8,816
1861 historical 272 #9,167
1881 historical 262 #10,721
1891 historical 332 #10,251
1901 historical 343 #10,583
1911 historical 371 #9,830
1997 modern 427 #10,476
1998 modern 457 #10,279
1999 modern 448 #10,482
2000 modern 445 #10,539
2001 modern 437 #10,482
2002 modern 431 #10,820
2003 modern 416 #10,941
2004 modern 409 #11,095
2005 modern 416 #10,855
2006 modern 418 #10,861
2007 modern 428 #10,766
2008 modern 426 #10,911
2009 modern 442 #10,844
2010 modern 430 #11,306
2011 modern 428 #11,219
2012 modern 424 #11,183
2013 modern 422 #11,436
2014 modern 429 #11,347
2015 modern 426 #11,320
2016 modern 420 #11,414

Geography

Back to top

Where Gowards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Weston, Roxwell, Melton, Little, Bowden Magna and Watton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Newark and Sherwood, South Norfolk, Breckland and Waveney. 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 Weston Norfolk
2 Roxwell Essex
3 Melton, Little Norfolk
4 Bowden Magna Leicestershire
5 Watton Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 008 Northumberland
2 Newark and Sherwood 001 Newark and Sherwood
3 South Norfolk 004 South Norfolk
4 Breckland 005 Breckland
5 Waveney 010 Waveney

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Goward

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Goward

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Goward is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Goward 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

Goward falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Goward

The surname Goward is of English origin, emerging in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "gat" and "weard," meaning "goat" and "keeper" or "guardian," respectively. This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who tended to goats or worked as a goatherd.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, dated 1199, where it is spelled as "Gateward." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time. Another early mention can be found in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219, where it is recorded as "Gatewarde."

During the 13th century, the name began to appear in various locations across England, including Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire. The Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, compiled in 1279, mention a "Richard Gateward," indicating the presence of the name in that region.

One notable figure bearing the Goward surname was John Goward, a 16th-century English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Salisbury from 1551 to 1556. He was born in Wiltshire around 1500 and played a role in the Protestant Reformation in England during the reign of Edward VI.

Another historical figure was William Goward, a 17th-century English dramatist and poet. Born in Buckinghamshire around 1635, he is best known for his play "The Revenge of the Duchess" and his poetic work "The Passion of Christ."

In the 18th century, Thomas Goward (1705-1779) was a prominent English lawyer and landowner. He served as a Member of Parliament for Arundel from 1754 to 1768 and was known for his involvement in local politics and affairs.

Moving into the 19th century, John Goward (1810-1878) was a British artist and illustrator. He specialized in watercolor paintings, particularly landscapes and architectural scenes. Some of his works can be found in the collections of the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Finally, in the early 20th century, Albert Goward (1884-1963) was a Canadian painter and printmaker. Born in Ontario, he is known for his landscape paintings depicting scenes from the Canadian wilderness and rural life. His works are held in various art galleries and museums across Canada.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Goward families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goward 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 102 Gowards recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.96x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 102 25.96x
Middlesex 39 1.53x
Surrey 28 2.25x
Yorkshire 23 0.91x
Leicestershire 19 6.71x
Essex 11 2.18x
Pembrokeshire 9 11.08x
Cambridgeshire 6 3.71x
Northumberland 6 1.58x
Durham 3 0.39x
Lancashire 3 0.10x
Berkshire 2 1.04x
Kent 2 0.23x
Cheshire 1 0.18x
Fife 1 0.66x
Gloucestershire 1 0.20x
Hampshire 1 0.19x
Hertfordshire 1 0.57x
Lanarkshire 1 0.12x
Somerset 1 0.24x
Staffordshire 1 0.12x
Sussex 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Weston Longville in Norfolk leads with 20 Gowards recorded in 1881 and an index of 5555.56x.

Place Total Index
Weston Longville 20 5555.56x
Great Bowden 14 542.64x
Watton 12 975.61x
Elsing 9 2647.06x
St Luke London 9 21.96x
Tenby St Mary In 9 217.92x
Beetley 8 2666.67x
Griston 8 3333.33x
Hardingham 8 1739.13x
Melton Parva 7 2187.50x
Newington 7 7.41x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 7 341.46x
Bermondsey 6 7.89x
Bethnal Green London 6 5.40x
Emley 6 530.97x
Hackney London 6 4.19x
Roxwell 6 845.07x
Throckley 6 571.43x
Wisbech St Peter 6 73.89x
East Dereham 5 100.81x
Market Harborough 5 390.63x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 5 209.21x
Thames Ditton 5 193.05x
Chelsea London 4 5.19x
Framingham Earl 4 3333.33x
Hornsey 4 12.38x
Leeds 4 2.80x
Croydon 3 4.34x
Lambeth 3 1.35x
Oswaldtwistle 3 28.01x
Swanton Morley 3 500.00x
Wortley In Bramley 3 14.96x
Barnham Broom 2 512.82x
Bow London 2 6.15x
Costessey 2 235.29x
Grindon 2 666.67x
Liversedge 2 17.75x
Mile End Old Town London 2 3.68x
Reading St Mary 2 13.02x
West Bradenham 2 740.74x
Writtle 2 97.09x
Bengeo 1 49.02x
Bristol St Augustine 1 12.36x
Camberwell 1 0.61x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.66x
Darlington 1 3.41x
Deopham 1 270.27x
Dukinfield 1 3.84x
Govan 1 0.49x
Gressenhall 1 136.99x
Hampton Wick London 1 53.48x
Hastings St Andrew 1 64.94x
Heigham 1 4.74x
Holdenhurst 1 7.28x
Kensington London 1 0.70x
Keynsham 1 33.90x
Kingston On Thames 1 3.34x
Loughton 1 40.16x
Lyng 1 227.27x
Merton 1 666.67x
Norwich St Gregory 1 144.93x
Poplar London 1 2.07x
Richmond 1 5.73x
Rochester St Margaret 1 10.87x
Rotherhithe 1 3.17x
Scoonie 1 30.49x
Shoreditch London 1 0.90x
Sparham 1 370.37x
Swanscombe 1 25.51x
Thornaby 1 10.57x
West Ham 1 0.90x
Westminster St John 1 3.21x
Wolverhampton 1 1.51x
Woodford 1 17.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 13
Sarah 10
Charlotte 8
Alice 6
Ann 4
Ellen 4
Emma 4
Edith 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Maria 3
Susan 3
Amy 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Emily 2
Helena 2
Jessie 2
May 2
Cecelia 1
Christiana 1
Christina 1
El.Blanche 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Eliza. 1
Eveling 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Georgeanna 1
Georgeina 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Jemmima 1
Jenny 1
John 1
Louise 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Marian 1
Mariann 1
Maryann 1
Nancy 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
George 16
William 16
Thomas 9
Arthur 5
Herbert 5
James 5
Robert 5
Charles 3
Godfrey 3
Henry 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Richard 2
Rowland 2
Samuel 2
Walstern 2
Zachariah 2
Abraham 1
Barnabas 1
Bernard 1
Berty 1
Cecil 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Frank 1
Geo. 1
Joseph 1
Leonard 1
Pearson 1
Pierson 1
Reuben 1
Sevi 1
Shadrack 1
Sharman 1
Thos.Goodwin 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Goward surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goward surname in 1881?

In 1881, 262 people were recorded with the Goward surname. That placed it at #10,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goward surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 420 in 2016. That gives Goward a modern rank of #11,414.

What does the Goward surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "homeward path."

What does the Goward map show?

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