Goodes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Goodes is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name. It was a name given to a person who was a person who performed good deeds or acts of kindness. 1

Another source claims the name was noting a "descendant of Goda or Gode (good), which is also the first element in many names such as Godmund, Godric and Godwine. In these names it often refers to God; occasionally it refers to the good man." 2

And yet another source claims the name was originally Norman as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Alyered and Ralph Godes of Normandy in 1198. 3

Early Origins of the Goodes family

The surname Goodes was first found in Kent, Sussex and Wiltshire, where the name God was found in the Domesday Book. 4 5

Other early records include Gilbert le Gode in the Curia Regis Rolls for Berkshire in 1212; Robert Gode in the Assize Rolls of Gloucester of 1221; and Thomas le Goude in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex of 1327. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included the family entries as both a forename and a surname: Goda Herrt, 1273; William filius Gode; Goda Poggel; Norman filius Gode; Goda de Castre. Interesting no county entries were provided with these. 6

Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Hugo Gud; Cecilia Gud; Robertus Godde and Elena uxor ejus; and Willelmus Gude. 6

In Somerset, Richard le Gode was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 7

Further to the north in Scotland, entries were quite late: "George Gude and Mariota Hommyll, his spouse, are mentioned in 1517. Thomas Gude, was bailie of Lowdoun, Ayr, 1533. John Gwid, mason, was builder of the tower of Pollok, 1536, and John Gud held a tenement in Glasgow, 1555." 8

Early History of the Goodes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Goodes research. Another 167 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1402, 1527, 1537, 1561, 1576, 1581, 1600, 1607, 1609, 1616, 1636, 1638, 1648, 1671, 1678, 1689, 1692 and 1893 are included under the topic Early Goodes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goodes Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Goodes has appeared include Good, Goode, Goad, Goade, Gudd, Gude, Legood and many more.

Early Notables of the Goodes family

Notables of this surname at this time include: James Good (c. 1527-1581), a London physician; Thomas Goad (1576-1638), an English clergyman, controversial writer, and rector of Hadleigh, Suffolk; George Goad (died 1671), Master of Eton College; Thomas Good (Goode), (1609-1678), an English academic and clergyman, and Master of Balliol College, Oxford; John Goad (1616-1689)...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Goodes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Goodes family to Ireland

Some of the Goodes family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goodes migration to Australia +

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

Goodes Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Goodes, aged 42, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Fatima" 9
James Goodes, aged 47, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Caucasian" 10
Thomas Goodes, aged 34, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Caucasian" 10
William Goodes, aged 18, a wheelwright, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Caucasian" 10
David Goodes, aged 14, a ploughboy, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Caucasian" 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Goodes (post 1700) +

Mike Goodes (b. 1956), American professional PGA golfer, winner of the Allianz Championship (2009)
Herbert John Goodes CBE (b. 1986), English-born, Australian public servant and policymaker, Secretary of the Department of Social Services (1958-1965)
Reg Goodes (1928-1996), Australian rules footballer who played for South Melbourne in 1950
Reginald "Reggie" Goodes (b. 1992), South African rugby union footballer
Melvin "Mel" Goodes, Canadian businessman, former Chairman and CEO of Warner-Lambert Company (1999); his donations to Queen's University, Kingston were reflected in the naming of Goodes Hall, Kingston
Adam Goodes (b. 1980), former Australian rules footballer who played for the Sydney Swans (1999-2015), named Australian of the Year in 2014, twice Brownlow Medal winning (2003, 2006)
Brett Goodes (b. 1984), former Australian rules footballer who played for the Western Bulldogs (2013-2015), younger brother of Adam Goode
Guy Goodes (b. 1971), British-Israeli basketball coach

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The barque FATIMA 1850, 521 tons. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Fatima.htm
South Australian Register Tuesday 26 April 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Caucasian 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/caucasian1853.shtml