Goodgame History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Goodgame surname is thought to derive from an Old Norse personal name and literally means "battle-snake." 1

The family claim descent from Guthrum or Guthorm (d. 890), one of the Danish leaders which, encamping near Reading in 871, waged a stubborn warfare with King AEthelred and his successor AElfred throughout that year and the next. He "attacked Northumbria in 873; conquered Mercia in 874 ; and in the spring of 875 split into two divisions, one of which returned with Halfdene to Northumbria, while the other, led by 'the three kings Guthorm, Oskytel, and Amund,' marched from Repton to Cambridge, and thence in 876 sailed round the coast to Wareham." 2

Early Origins of the Goodgame family

The surname Goodgame was first found in Lincolnshire where Gerard filius Gudram, Guðram was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1201. One year later, Brictiua filia Guderam was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1202 in the same county. 1

Guderam Gleve was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1283; Hugh Godrum in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1260; and Thomas Guderam, Godram in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk 1283, 1327. 1

One source notes a very different origin that any of the aforementioned. We do not agree, but we are including it as the source is a reputable one.

"If the reader will repeat to himself Goodgroom several times he will see, in default of a local origin, that Gooderham was an inevitable corruption. This view is strongly sustained by the fact that there are no Goodgrooms in our directories, which for so popular a nickname would be curious if no corruptions existed." 3

Continuing this postulation, he notes that following entries in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Symon Godegrom, Sussex; and Robert le Godegrom, Huntingdonshire. 3

In Somerset, Robert Godgrom and John le Godegrom were listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 4

Early History of the Goodgame family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Goodgame research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1283, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Goodgame History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goodgame Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gooderham, Goderham, Goodram, Goodrum, Gudram, Gudderham, Guderam and many more.

Early Notables of the Goodgame family

More information is included under the topic Early Goodgame Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goodgame migration to Australia +

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

Goodgame Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Goodgame, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Trafalgar" in 1847 5

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. 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)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) TRAFALGAR 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Trafalgar.htm