Show ContentsGoudge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Goudge family

The surname Goudge was first found in Roxburghshire. One of the first records of the name was found in France alluding to its Norman heritage: Martin Gouge (c. 1360-1444), a French chancellor.

However, some of the family were found further south at Billesley in Warwickshire in early times. "The estate was afterwards possessed by Bishop Sherlock, through whose sister, who married Sir Thomas Gooch (1674-1754), Bishop of Ely, it passed into the Gooch family." 1

Early History of the Goudge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Goudge research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1165, 1540, 1575, 1578, 1594, 1609, 1614, 1630, 1643, 1653, 1665, 1674, 1681, 1700, 1705, 1727, 1730, 1746, 1749, 1751 and 1754 are included under the topic Early Goudge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goudge Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Googh, Gouche, Gowk, Googe, Gooch, Gooche and others.

Early Notables of the Goudge family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Sir John Gooch of Suffolk; Barnabe Googe (1540-1594), an English poet and translator; William Gouge (1575-1653), an English clergyman and author, minister and preacher at St Ann Blackfriars, member of the Westminster Assembly from 1643; Sir William Gooch (1681-1751), 1st Baronet, born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, Governor of Virginia (1727-1749) responsible for the passage of the Tobacco Inspection Act of 1730, eponym of Goochland County, Virginia; Sir Thomas Gooch, 2nd Baronet (1674-1754), an English bishop, brother to Sir William.Barnabe Googe (1540-1594), was an English poet, son of Robert Googe, recorder of...
Another 115 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Goudge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Goudge migration to Australia +

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

Goudge Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Goudge, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 2
  • Henry Goudge, aged 23, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "South Sea"

Goudge 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:

Goudge Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • J. Goudge, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "City of Auckland" in 1872

Contemporary Notables of the name Goudge (post 1700) +

  • Thomas Anderson "T. A." Goudge (1910-1999), Canadian philosopher and academic, winner of the Governor General's Award in 1961 for The Ascent of Life, President of the Charles S. Peirce Society from 1957 to 1959
  • Monson Henry Goudge (1829-1919), Canadian merchant and politician who represented Hants in the Canadian House of Commons from 1873 to 1878
  • Henry Goudge (1805-1841), Canadian merchant and politician
  • Elizabeth de Beauchamp Goudge FRSL (1900-1984), English writer of novels, short stories and children's books, recipient of the Carnegie Medal in 1946 for The Little White Horse
  • Christopher Edward "Chris" Goudge (1935-2010), British hurdler at the 1960 Summer Olympic Games


The Goudge 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: Audaces juvat
Motto Translation: Fortune favours the bold.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HOOGHLY 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Hooghly.htm


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