Godson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Godson family

The surname Godson 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 Godson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Godson 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 Godson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Godson 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 Godson 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 Godson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Godson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Godson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Francis Godson, who arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1637 5
Christofer Godson, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 5
Richard Godson, who arrived in Virginia in 1651 5
Tho Godson, who landed in Virginia in 1652 5
John Godson, who landed in Maryland in 1659 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Godson migration to Australia +

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

Godson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Michael Godson, (Richard, Goodson), (b. 1805), aged 22, Irish farmers man who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 19th July 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
William Godson, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Indian" 7
William Godson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Indian" in 1849 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Godson (post 1700) +

Lindley W. Godson, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories

Historic Events for the Godson family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Frederick Godson (1888-1914), Canadian First Class Passenger from Kingston, Ontario, Canada who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland 8

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The INDIAN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Indian.htm
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html