Goldsmork History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The Goldsmork family name dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. The name comes from when an early member worked as a goldsmith, jeweler. The name denoted "one who made or sold gold articles, a jeweler, later a banker." 1 Early records may show the name in the Latin-French version "Aurifaber." 2

Early French revealed "Geoffry, Roger, William, Nicholas. Gerard Aurifaber (Goldsmith) of Normandy 1180-95, three more in 1198 in the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae. 3

"The great value of the commodity in which the medieval goldsmith dealt rendered him a person of consequence. No less than three tenants-in-chief under the Conqueror arc entered in Domesday under the name of Aurifaber. One of these, Otto Aurifaber, held in Essex, and his descendants, under the surname of Fitz-Otho, appear to have been hereditary mint-masters to the crown for two centuries, becoming extinct in 1282. Kelham. The equivalent French Orfevre, and the German Goldschmid, are well-known surnames." 4

Early Origins of the Goldsmork family

The surname Goldsmork was first found in Norfolk where Roger Goldsmiz was listed in 1250. Thomas Goldsmith was listed in the Assize Rolls for Essex in 1255 and later John le Goldesmethe was listed in Devon in 1309. 5

The Hundredorum Rolls recorded the name in the Latin form: Geoffrey Aurifaber, Salop (Shropshire); and Walter Aurifaber, Oxfordshire. 2

Richard le Goldsmythe, was listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign) in Somerset. 6

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Thomas Goldsmyth, goldsmyth, of Wakefield; Johannes filius Gallridi, goldsmyth; Hugo Goldsmyth; and Agnes Goldsmvche. 2

Further to the north in Scotland, the records were first in the Latin form and later changed to the more contemporary spellings. "William Aurifaber witnessed a gift of land to the Hospital of Soltre c. 1250-1266. Ewgenius (Ewen) Aurifaber was one of an inquest at Dumbarton in 1271, and Martin Aurifaber appears as burgess of Aberdeen in 1281. Walter Aurifaber, burgess of Roxburgh in 1285 is doubtless "Walter the goldsmith, burgess and alderman of Roxburgh," who rendered homage in 1296. Rogier le orfeure of Berwick, also rendered homage in 1296. John Goldsmith (aurifaber) was bailie of Edinburgh in 1342 and rendered to Exchequer the accounts of the city." 7 The two entries of "rendered homage" refers to them having "renerderd homage" to King Edward I during his attempt to conquer Scotland.

Early History of the Goldsmork family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Goldsmork research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1426, 1427, 1453, 1472, 1481, 1488, 1494, 1613, 1629 and 1655 are included under the topic Early Goldsmork History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goldsmork Spelling Variations

Goldsmork has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Goldsmork have been found, including Goldsmith, Goldsmyth and others.

Early Notables of the Goldsmork family

Distinguished members of the family include Francis Goldsmith (1613-1655), English translator of Grotius, born on 25 March 1613, son and heir of Francis Goldsmith of St. Giles's-in-the-Fields, Middlesex, and grandson of Sir Francis Goldsmith of Crayford, Kent. "He became a gentleman-commoner of...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Goldsmork Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Goldsmork family to Ireland

Some of the Goldsmork family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Goldsmork family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Goldsmorks to arrive on North American shores: Arthur Goldsmith who purchased land and settled in Virginia in 1618; William settled in Barbados in 1654; Richard, Lewis, Joseph, Henry and Morris all settled in Philadelphia between 1822 and 1878.

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)