Goodiff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

In ancient Scotland, the first people to use Goodiff as a surname were the Strathclyde-Britons. It was a name someone who lived in Edinburghshire, where the family was found since the early Middle Ages. Goodiff is an ancient Scottish name that evolved from the Goldie, which derives from the Old English personal name Gold.

Early Origins of the Goodiff family

The surname Goodiff was first found in Edinburghshire, where the name appears from about 1598 onwards and later in the forms Gowdie, Gaudie, Goddie. "Robert Gowdie was a writer in Edinburgh, 1643 and John Gawdie was one of 'those who ere matriculat in the Companie of Merchands of Edinbergh,' 1687. William Goudie in Ayr, 1689. The surname was early carried to the north appearing in Shetland first in 1576 in the person of Gawane Gadie of Lougasettar, Dunrossness." 1

Early History of the Goodiff family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Goodiff research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1567, 1576, 1643, 1689, 1783 and 1847 are included under the topic Early Goodiff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goodiff Spelling Variations

Before the printing press standardized spelling in the last few hundred years, no general rules existed in the English language. Spelling variations in Scottish names from the Middle Ages are common even within a single document. Goodiff has been spelled Goudie, Gouday, Goudey, Goudy, Gowdy, Gowdie, Gadie, Goodie, Gady and many more.

Early Notables of the Goodiff family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Goodiff Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Goodiff family to Ireland

Some of the Goodiff family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 32 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 Goodiff family

For Scottish immigrants, the great expense of travel to North America did not seem such a problem in those unstable times. Acres of land awaited them and many got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. These Scots and their ancestors went on to play important roles in the forging of the great nations of the United States and Canada. Among them: Thomas Gowdy, who was on record at Long Cane in Abbeyville, South Carolina in 1756; James Gaddy, who came to Canada in 1791; Alexander Goudey who settled in New England in 1792.

The Goodiff Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Honestas
Motto Translation: Honesty.