Goossens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Belgium
Scotland/England

The surname Goossens originated in the Dutch-speaking regions of the Low Countries as a patronymic name, one based upon the given name of the father of the initial bearer. In this instance, "Goossen" is an old Dutch-Flemish version of the ancient Germanic personal name "Gottwin," derived from the Old High German words "gott", meaning "god", and "wini", denoting a "friend."

By extension, the name means "son of Goos/Goossen," Goswin which means "friend of the Goths (gos)." This ancient personal name dates back to at least Gosse Ludigman (d. c. 1000), the legendary potestaat (elected governor) of Friesland.

Early Origins of the Goossens family

The surname Goossens was first found in Zwolle, in the Netherlands where Gherd Gosenssoen was recorded in 1399. Later in 1449, Henric Goessenssoen was recorded multiple times in the same region.

This surname was introduced to South Africa in the late seventeenth century by Jean Baptiste Goossen, a native of the town of Londerzeel in what is now Belgian Brabant. He worked as a shoe-maker's assistant in Stellenbosch and was married, on 13 July 1698, to the former Elisabeth Viant of Amsterdam, with whom he was to have three children.

Early History of the Goossens family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Goossens research. Another 146 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1543, 1610, 1810, 1845, 1867, 1882, 1893, 1894, 1897, 1899, 1906, 1958, 1962, 1988 and 1991 are included under the topic Early Goossens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goossens Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Goossens, Goessens, Goosen, Goossen(s), Goosen(s), Ghoosen, Gooessens, Goofsens, Gosens, Goissen, Goysens, Gos(s)in, Gozin, Gosain, Gossijns, Gossen(s), Goes(s)ens, Goussen(s) , Gussen(s) and many more.

Early Notables of the Goossens family

The surname was distinguished by many in this era including

Johan Goessens, who was recorded at Nijmegen in 1543. "The children of Peter Wouters (born ca. 1610) take the surname Goossens, after the name of their great-grandfather. Occasionally, Peter Wouters h...
Eugène Goossens (1845-1906) was a Belgian conductor, born in Bruges. He was musical director of the Carl Rosa Opera Company, for whom he conducted the first English performance of Richard Wagner's Tan...

Goossens Ranking

In France, the name Goossens is the 8,199^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 1 However, in Netherlands, the name Goossens is ranked the 158^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,206 people with that name. 2

Goossens migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Joseph Goossens, aged 28, Belgian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Pennland" 3

Goossens Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Guillaume Goossens, aged 33, Belgian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Caroline" in 1835 3
Philippine Goossens, aged 3, Belgian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Caroline" in 1835 3
Marie Therese Goossens, aged 6, Belgian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Caroline" in 1835 3
Barbe Goossens, aged 1, Belgian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Caroline" in 1835 3
Jean Francois Goossens, aged 13, Belgian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Caroline" in 1835 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Goossens migration to Australia +

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

Goossens Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

Elsa Goossens, settler from London who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Orsova" in 1911 4
Garbut Goossens, settler from London who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Orsova" in 1911 4
Sylvia Goossens, settler from London who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Orsova" in 1911 4
Alice Goossens, settler from Marseilles who arrived in Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Cephee" in 1928 4
Renee Goossens, settler from Marseilles who arrived in Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Cephee" in 1928 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Goossens (post 1700) +

Peter C. Goossens, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Missouri, 1940 5
Léon Jean Goossens CBE, FRCM, (1897-1988), English oboist
Marie Henriette Goossens OBE (1894-1991), English harpist, a member of the famous Goossens musical family
Annie Sidonie Goossens OBE (1899-2004), born in Cheshire, England she was one of Britain's most enduring harpists
Simon Goossens (1893-1964), Belgian sculptor
Michael Goossens (b. 1973), Belgian retired footballer who played as a striker
Pierre-Lambert Goossens (1827-1906), Belgian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church
Ray Goossens (1924-1998), Belgian artist, animator, writer, and director
John Goossens (b. 1988), Dutch former professional footballer
John J. Baron Goossens (1944-2002), Belgian businessman
... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
Ellis Island Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
National Archives of Australia retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/PassengerListing.aspx
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html