Show ContentsGoodison History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Goodison family

The surname Goodison was first found in Norfolk at Gooderstone, a parish, in the union of Swaffham, hundred of South Greenhoe. "The church exhibits various stages of the English style, and has a square embattled tower; the nave is divided from the chancel by the remains of a beautifully carved screen, and on the south side of the chancel is a double piscina." 1

The parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Godestuna. 2

By 1254, the parish was known as Gutherstone and literally meant "farmstead of a man called Guthhere," having derived from the Old English personal name + "tun." 3

The Domesday Book also listed Alwinus Gode sunu as holding lands in Somerset at that time. The Pipe Rolls for London included a listing for William Godsune in 1200. Later, Benedict Godsone was listed in the Feet of Fines for Cheshire in 1298 and Richard Goddesone in the Subsidy Rolls for Staffordshire in 1332. 4

Early History of the Goodison family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Goodison research. Another 320 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1205, 1235, 1252, 1294, 1296, 1302, 1303, 1305, 1332, 1377, 1402, 1634, 1654, 1662, 1716, 1718, 1741, 1839 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Goodison History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goodison Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Goodson, Goodison, Gooderson, Goodisson, Goodsone, Godson, Godison, Goderson, Godisson, Gudgeon and many more.

Early Notables of the Goodison family

Distinguished members of the family include Richard Goodson the Elder (d. 1718), English organist of New College and of Christchurch, Oxford. Richard Goodson the Younger (d. 1741), proceeded Mus. Bac. from Christchurch, Oxford, 1 March 1716; was organist at Christchurch and New College, and succeeded his...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Goodison Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Goodison migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Goodison Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Raymond Goodison, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1607 5

Australia Goodison migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Goodison Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Christopher Goodison, English convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Egyptian" on 5th April 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6

New Zealand Goodison migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Goodison Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Goodison, (b. 1825), aged 40, British dressmaker travelling from London aboard the ship "Greyhound" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 7th May 1865 7
  • Miss Helen Goodison, (b. 1854), aged 11, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Greyhound" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 7th May 1865 7
  • John W. Goodison, aged 29, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Earl Granville" in 1880
  • Elizabeth Goodison, aged 18, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Earl Granville" in 1880
  • Ethel L. Goodison, aged 4, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Earl Granville" in 1880


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/egyptian
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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