The name Goolsby is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It is a name for someone who worked as a goldsmith, or jeweller refiner or gilder. The surname Goolsby was also a nickname for someone with bright yellow hair which referred to gold.
The surname Goolsby was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Goolsby research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1598 and 1606 are included under the topic Early Goolsby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Goolsby are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Goolsby include: Goldesborough, Goldsbrough, Goldisbrough, Goldsborough and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Goolsby Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Goolsby or a variant listed above: Thomas Goldsborough who settled in Jamaica in 1686; John Goldsborough settled in Maryland in 1774.