Show ContentsGott History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Gott family

The surname Gott was first found in Bavaria, where the name was closely identified in early medieval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs. Like many surnames, the name Gott began as a personal name. Gott was a short form of any of several German personal names which began with that word, which means "good" or "God."

Early History of the Gott family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gott research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1745, 1817, 1843 and 1844 are included under the topic Early Gott History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gott Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gotte, Gott, Godt, Goth, Gothe, Gode, Godde, Gohde, Gode, Gade, Gadde and many more.

Early Notables of the Gott family

Prominent among members of the name Gott in this period include

  • the Gotte family of Bavaria, ennobled September 10th 1745

Gott Ranking

In the United States, the name Gott is the 5,744th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


Gott migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gott Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Charles Gott, who landed in Salem, Massachusetts in 1628 2
  • Henry Gott, who landed in Maryland in 1651 2
  • Robert Gott, who arrived in Maryland in 1669 2
Gott Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Samuel Gott, who landed in New England in 1721 2
  • Georg Gott, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1754 2
Gott Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joh Fr Gott, aged 45, who landed in America in 1837 2
  • A Henry Gott, who arrived in Cincinnati, Oh in 1869-1870 2
  • Henry A Gott, who arrived in Ohio in 1869 2

Gott 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:

Gott Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Gott, aged 24, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dallam Tower" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name Gott (post 1700) +

  • First Lieutenant Donald J Gott, American officer awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944
  • Richard Gott, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 2004 3
  • Percy V. D. Gott, American Republican politician, Delegate to New York State Constitutional Convention 27th District, 1938 3
  • Joseph A. Gott, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from New York County 13th District, 1933 3
  • John M. Gott, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Maryland State House of Delegates District 29-C, 1998 3
  • Harvey W. Gott, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Columbia County 2nd District, 1854 3
  • Frederick E. Gott, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1892; Member of New York State Assembly from Monroe County 4th District, 1897 3
  • Daniel Gott (1794-1864), American politician, Representative from New York 24th District, 1847-51 3
  • Margaret Beth Gott AM (1922-2022), née Noye, an Australian plant physiologist, ethnobotanist and academic who specialised in the use of indigenous plants in south-east Australia
  • Karel Gott (1939-2019), Czech recording artist and amateur painter who sold over 50-100 million records worldwide
  • ... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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