Goodheir History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Goodheir is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the given names Gudhir, or Gudvar, which were popular medieval names of Germanic origin. 1

Another source notes that the name could have originated from the Middle English goodyeare, goodier, goodere, goodye(e)re meaning 'good year', as in "an expletive used in questions, 'What the good year?' Possibly elliptic for 'as I hope to have a good year' " 2

The Domesday Book of 1086 has the first record of the family as Godere and Goderus (Latin). 3

Early Origins of the Goodheir family

The surname Goodheir was first found in Huntingdonshire, where the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Cest' Godyer. 4

"Goodyear, which is now a Lincolnshire name, was represented 600 years ago by Godyer in the adjacent county of Huntingdonshire." 5

John Godeyer, was listed in the Close Rolls, 10 Richard II (during the tenth year of Richard II's reign.)

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Willelmus Goddeyere; Simon Godeycre, smyth; and Willelmus Godcyere as all holding lands there at that time. 4

Charles Goodyear (1800-1860) the American inventor and patent holder of vulcanized rubber was born in New Haven, Connecticut. His father was a descendant of Stephen Goodyear (c. 1598-1658) born in London, who emigrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration.

Early History of the Goodheir family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Goodheir research. Another 223 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1285, 1295, 1296, 1301, 1327, 1456, 1467, 1500, 1513, 1566, 1592, 1600, 1613, 1626, 1627, 1636, 1664, 1682, 1687, 1705, 1708, 1718, 1719 and 1741 are included under the topic Early Goodheir History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goodheir Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Goodheir family name include Goodyear, Goodier and others.

Early Notables of the Goodheir family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Goodyer (1592-1664), a 17th century botanist who was known as "the ablest Herbalist now living in England." Samuel Goodere (1687-1741), was an English captain in the navy, the third and youngest son of Sir Edward Goodere, bart., of Burhope in Herefordshire, by his wife, daughter and heiress of Sir Edward Dineley, bart., of Charleton in Worcestershire, and on the mother's side granddaughter of Lewis Watson, first lord Rockingham. The eldest son having been killed in a duel, the second son, John Dineley, who had been brought up at sea in the merchant service...
Another 182 words (13 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Goodheir Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Goodheir family

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Goodheir family to immigrate North America: Stephen Goodyear, a London merchant, who landed in New Haven in 1638. In 1641 he was appointed Deputy Governor of Connecticut. A. and W.B. Goodyear settled in San Francisco Cal. in 1850 and 1852 respectively.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. 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)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.