Show ContentsGolder History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Golder family

The surname Golder was first found in Lanarkshire, Scotland, from the ancient lordship and manor of the same name. Some of the first records of the family include: Isabele de Calrewode of the county of Lanark who rendered homage to King Edward I in 1296 and John de Calderwode who witnessed an instrument of sasine in 1456. Two years later, Edward de Caldorwud had his pension of 20 marks and a croft of church land assigned to him at Cambuslang in 1458 and later still, Archibald Caldderwood was vicar of Cadder in 1509. 1

Early History of the Golder family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Golder research. Another 232 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1548, 1566, 1575, 1650, 1660, 1678, 1687, 1733 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Golder History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Golder Spelling Variations

The name Golder, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Calderwood, Caldderwood, Calderwoods, Cawderood, Caderwood, Cadderwood, Caldorwood, Calderwude, Calderwoud, Calderwode, Caldorwud and many more.

Early Notables of the Golder family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was David Calderwood (1575-1650), Scottish ecclesiastic, historian, and theological writer, born (as is believed) at Dalkeith, Midlothian, and educated at the college of...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Golder Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Golder Ranking

In the United States, the name Golder is the 14,899th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Ireland Migration of the Golder family to Ireland

Some of the Golder family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 91 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Golder migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned as many of the settlers in Ireland, known as the Scotch/Irish, became disenchanted. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Amongst the early settlers who could be considered kinsmen of the Golder family, or who bore a variation of the surname Golder were

Golder Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Golder, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 3
Golder Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Golder, who arrived in Virginia in 1757 3
Golder Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Rudolph Golder, aged 24, who landed in New York in 1849 3
  • J Golder, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 3
  • David Golder, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1869 3

Australia Golder migration to Australia +

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

Golder Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Alfred Golder, aged 28, a wheelwright, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Royal Charlie" 4

New Zealand Golder 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:

Golder Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Golder, aged 29, a shepherd, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 5
  • Margaret Golder, aged 2, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 5
  • William Golder, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841

Contemporary Notables of the name Golder (post 1700) +

  • Stanley Golder (d. 2000), American financier and venture capitalist
  • Herbert Golder, American academic and co-writer of My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? (2009)
  • Frank Alfred Golder (1877-1929), American historian, scholar
  • Benjamin M. Golder (1891-1946), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania (1925-1933)
  • Alan Golder (b. 1955), American burglar known as the "Dinnertime Bandit" who specialized in stealing jewellery from mansions while the home's owners were eating dinner; he served 15 years in prison, upon release started stealing again and fled to Europe where he was extradited to the US and given another 15 years in prison
  • Boyd Elmer Golder (1892-1978), American Democratic Party politician, Real estate broker; Utica city assessor, 1938-46; Mayor of Utica, New York, 1946-55; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1952 6
  • Benjamin Martin Golder (1891-1946), American Republican politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1917-25 6
  • Hugh Golder, Canadian co-founder of the engineering firm Golder Associates in 1960, now with 8,000 employees worldwide
  • Douglas Golder (b. 1948), Australian silver medalist field hockey player at the 1976 Summer Olympics

RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Martin W. Golder (d. 1912), aged 32, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 7


The Golder 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: Veritas premitur non opprimitur
Motto Translation: Truth may be kept down, but not crushed.


  1. 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)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. 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)
  4. South Australian Register Thursday 25th May 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Royal Charlie 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/royalcharlie1854.shtml
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  7. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook