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Show ContentsGoodman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Goodman originated with the Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled Britain. It is derived from from the baptismal name for the son of Godmund. 1

Adam Goddam or Woodham (d. 1358) was a Franciscan, "born towards the end of the thirteenth century, and attended Ockham's lectures on the ‘Sentences’ of Peter Lombard at Oxford, where he was presumably a member of the Franciscan convent. His studies under Ockham must have ended in the first years of the fourteenth century, when his master went to Paris." 2

Early Origins of the Goodman family

The surname Goodman was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 listed Godman(nus), Godeman(us). 3 Some of the first entries for the name appeared as appeared as a forename as in Godeman de Waledena in the Pipe Rolls for Hertfordshire in 1176; and Godman de Offenchurche in the Assize Rolls for Warwickshire in 1221.

Astcelinus Godeman was listed at Winton, Hampshire in 1115 and Nicholas Godman was listed in Suffolk in 1188. Henry le Godman was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls for Cheshire in 1275 and Gerard Gudman was listed as holding lands in Yorkshire in 1352. 4

Early History of the Goodman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Goodman research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1520, 1528, 1529, 1560, 1582, 1583, 1601, 1603, 1649, 1651, 1656, 1699 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Goodman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goodman 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 Goodman has appeared include Goodman, Goodmann and others.

Early Notables of the Goodman family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Gabriel Goodman (1528-1601), Dean of Westminster in 1601, born at Ruthin, Denbighshire, about 1529, was second son of Edward Goodman (d. 1560), merchant and burgess of Ruthin
  • Godfrey Goodman (c.1583-1656), Anglican Bishop of Gloucester, born at Ruthin, Denbighshire, 28 Feb. 1582-1583, was second son of Godfrey Goodman
  • Cardell Goodman (Cardonell) (1649?-1699), was an English actor of the King's Company at Drury Lane Theatre and adventurer, now known as a Jacobite conspirator. He "was son of a clergyman of the same n...
  • Christopher Goodman (1520?-1603), was a Puritan divine, member of an old Cheshire family, was probably born (1520) in Chester

Goodman World Ranking

In the United States, the name Goodman is the 386th most popular surname with an estimated 72,123 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Goodman is ranked the 736th most popular surname with an estimated 5,285 people with that name. 6 And in New Zealand, the name Goodman is the 706th popular surname with an estimated 1,009 people with that name. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Goodman as 563rd with 11,542 people. 8

Ireland Migration of the Goodman family to Ireland

Some of the Goodman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 72 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Goodman migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Goodman arrived in North America very early:

Goodman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Robart Goodman, aged 24, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship "Bona Nova" 9
  • John Goodman, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1620 aboard the "Mayflower" 9
  • Robert Goodman, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 9
  • Richard Goodman, who landed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1632, later constable of Hartford Conn 9
  • Thomas Goodman, aged 25, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Goodman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Richard Goodman, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 9
  • Thomas Goodman, who landed in New England in 1712 9
  • William Goodman, who arrived in Virginia in 1715 9
  • Geo Goodman, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1738 9
  • Johan Stephen Goodman, aged 27, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Goodman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Catherine Goodman, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 9
  • Mr. Goodman, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1822 9
  • Charles Goodman, who arrived in New York in 1834 9
  • Charles, Daniel, Edward, George, Job, John, Mark, and Phillip Goodman, who all, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1860
  • Mr. John Goodman, (b. 1772), aged 68, English farmer departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Goodman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Goodman Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Danl Goodman, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Daniel Goodman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Goodman Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Matthew Goodman, aged 40, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Nancy Goodman, aged 40, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
  • James Goodman, aged 5, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
  • John Goodman, aged 6, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Rose Goodman, aged 3, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Goodman migration to Australia +

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

Goodman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Ann Goodman, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Mr. John Goodman, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 20th May 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
  • Benjamin Goodman, English convict from York, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on July 29th, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 13
  • George Goodman, a painter, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • Augustus Goodman, a carpenter, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Goodman migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Goodman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. W. H. Goodman, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Bee" arriving in New Zealand in 1831 14
  • Robert Goodman, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cresswell" in 1856
  • Mr. Samuel Goodman, (b. 1811), aged 47, English shoemaker from London travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 15
  • Mrs. Betsy Goodman, (b. 1815), aged 43, English settler from London travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 15
  • Miss Betsy Goodman, (b. 1838), aged 20, English settler from London travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Goodman migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16
Goodman Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Tymothie Goodman, (b. 1608), aged 27, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 17

Contemporary Notables of the name Goodman (post 1700) +

  • John Stephen Goodman (b. 1952), Golden Globe-winning American film, television, and stage actor
  • Leonard Gordon "Len" Goodman (1944-2023), English professional ballroom dancer and head judge on the UK television programme Strictly Come Dancing
  • Dorothy Goodman (1926-2023), née Bruchholz, an American educator closely associated with the charter school movement
  • Robert "Bob" Goodman (1939-2023), American boxing matchmaker, publicist and promoter, inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009
  • Paulette Goodman (1933-2021), French-born, American President of Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) from 1988 to 1992, she led the campaign to get PFLAG ads displayed on DC Metro buses
  • Jeremiah Goodman (1922-2017), American illustrator and designer, he created the covers for Interior Design magazine for almost twenty years
  • Philip Solomon Goodman (1926-2015), American screenwriter, producer, and director, known for We Shall Return (1963), Japan Reaches for the 21st Century (1986) and Rocky King, Detective (1950)
  • Roy Matz Goodman (1930-2014), American politician, Member of the New York State Senate from 1969 to 2002
  • Major-General William Moses Goodman (1892-1958), American Commanding Officer, Anti-Aircraft Defenses, Los Angeles (1942) 18
  • Brigadier-General John Forest Goodman (1891-1947), American Commanding Officer, 364th Infantry Regiment (1942-1945) 19
  • ... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Fraterville mine
  • Mr. W. B. Goodman (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 20
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Herbert Goodman, British Boy 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 21
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. B. Goodman, English Trimmer from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 22
  • Mr. Arthur Goodman, American 2nd Class passenger from Rochester, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 23
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Kenneth D. Goodman, American Private First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 24

Suggested Readings for the name Goodman +

  • Some Goodmans and McHughs by Matthew Lee McHugh.
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  7. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  8. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  9. 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)
  10. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
  13. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 151 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1823
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  17. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  18. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 6) William Goodman. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Goodman/William_Moses/USA.html
  19. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 6) John Goodman. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Goodman/John_Forest/USA.html
  20. News paper article Fraterville Mine Disaster retrieved on 6th August 2021. (Retrieved from http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/disasters/fraterville.htm).
  21. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  22. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  23. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  24. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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