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Show ContentsGough History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Gough is derived from the Welsh word "coch," which means "red." Gough was originally a nickname for a ruddy or red-complexioned person, which later became a hereditary surname. 1

Iolo Goch or the Red (fl. 1328-1405), a Welsh bard, whose real name is said to be Edward Llwyd, was Lord of Llechryd and resided at Coed Pantwn in Denbighshire. 2

Early Origins of the Gough family

The surname Gough was first found in Radnorshire (Welsh: Sir Faesyfed), a former historic county of mid-Wales, anciently part of the kingdom of Powys.

However, while the name is a well known Welsh name, we must look to England to find some of the first records in early rolls. Robert Gogh was listed in the Assize Rolls of Cheshire in 1287 and later in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset. 3

Again in Somerset, Robert Gogh was listed in the rolls there, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 4

It was not until 1576, that we find Thomas Goughe listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Wales. 3

Early History of the Gough family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gough research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1428, 1467, 1528, 1556, 1559, 1560, 1570, 1591, 1605, 1608, 1610, 1612, 1614, 1623, 1624, 1629, 1642, 1652, 1660, 1661, 1679, 1681 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gough History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gough Spelling Variations

Although there are not an extremely large number Welsh surnames, there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations of those surnames. This variety of spellings began almost immediately after the acceptance of surnames within Welsh society. As time progressed, these old Brythonic names were eventually were recorded in English. This process was problematic in that many of the highly inflected sounds of the native language of Wales could not be properly captured in English. Some families, however, did decide to modify their own names to indicate a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even a patriotic affiliation. The name Gough has seen various spelling variations: Gough, Goff, Gof, Goffe and others.

Early Notables of the Gough family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

  • Sir Matthew Gough knighted in the French wars
  • John Gough, Gowghe, Gowgh, Gouge (fl. 1528-1556), was an early English printer, stationer, and translator, first lived in Cheapside [London], "next to Paul's Gate, possibly in the house of John Rastel...
  • John Gough (fl. 1570), was an English divine, "who seems not to have been of any university, was ordained deacon by Grindal, bishop of London, 14 Jan. 1559-1560. " 2
  • Thomas Goffe (1591-1629) was a Jacobean dramatist born in Essex. Stephen Goffe (Gough) C.O. (1605-1681), was a Royalist agent of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, and later an Oratorian priest, born at...
  • Thomas Goffe or Gough (1591-1629), was an English divine and poet, son of a clergyman, was born in Essex in 1591. 2
  • William Goffe or Gough (d. 1679?), English regicide, was the son of Stephen Goffe, rector of Stanmer in Sussex. "He was apprenticed to a London salter named Vaughan, and in 1642 was imprisoned by the...
  • John Goffe or Gough (1610?-1661), was an English divine, the son of Stephen Goffe or Gough, rector of Stanmer in Sussex, 'a severe Puritan.' 2

Gough World Ranking

In the United States, the name Gough is the 3,061st most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Gough is ranked the 708th most popular surname with an estimated 5,531 people with that name. 6 And in New Zealand, the name Gough is the 914th popular surname with an estimated 808 people with that name. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Gough as 461st with 14,059 people. 8

Ireland Migration of the Gough family to Ireland

Some of the Gough family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 107 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Gough migration to the United States +

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in search of land, work, and freedom. These immigrants greatly contributed to the rapid development of the new nations of Canada and the United States. They also added a rich and lasting cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. Investigation of immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Gough:

Gough Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mathew Gough, who settled in Virginia in 1635
  • Mr. Mathew Gough, (b. 1613), aged 22, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Safety" arriving in Virginia in 1635 9
  • Mathew Gough, who landed in Virginia in 1639 10
  • Barnaby Gough, who arrived in Maryland in 1659 10
  • Elizabeth Gough, who landed in Maryland in 1659 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Gough Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William, Gough Jr., who arrived in Georgia in 1733 10
  • Will Gough, who settled in Georgia in 1733 with his wife Mary and two sons and a daughter
Gough Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Miss Gough, who landed in New York, NY in 1817 10
  • Henry Gough, who landed in Texas in 1835 10
  • Janes Gough, aged 19, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1839 10
  • Patrick Gough, aged 29, who arrived in New York, NY in 1839 10
  • C C Gough, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Gough migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gough Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Martin Gough, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mary Gough, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Gough Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Philip Gough, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1833
  • Mary Ann Gough, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1839
  • Miss. Bridget Gough, aged 9 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Covenanter" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 11

Australia Gough migration to Australia +

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

Gough Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Gough, (Goff), (b. 1790), aged 23, English joiner who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for breaking and entering, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1876 12
  • Mr. Patrick Gough, British labourer who was convicted in Oiartzan (Oyarzun), Basque County, Gipuzkoa, Spain for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr. Thomas Gough, English convict who was convicted in Shropshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Charles Gough, English convict from Bristol, who was transported aboard the "Adamant" on March 16, 1821, settling in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Mr. John Gough, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "England"on 28th April 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Gough 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:

Gough Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Timothy Gough, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Marjory Gough, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • Timothy Gough, aged 36, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • Mary Gough, aged 30, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • Mr. Earnest Gough, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston aboard the ship "Eagle" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Gough migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 18
Gough Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Sarah Gough, who settled in Barbados in 1663 with John her husband
  • Edward Gough, who settled in Barbados in 1671

Contemporary Notables of the name Gough (post 1700) +

  • Alfred Fabian "Al" Gough III (b. 1967), American screenwriter and producer
  • Lloyd Gough (1907-1984), American theater, film, and television actor
  • Laurie Gough, Canadian-American travel writer
  • James Peter Gough, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Senator from California, 2000 19
  • J. R. Gough, American politician, Member of Texas State Senate 5th District, 1899-1900 19
  • Harold R. Gough, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives from St. Clair District, 1956 19
  • Don Gough, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Lynnwood, Washington, 2001 19
  • Don Gough, American Libertarian politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Texas 3rd District, 1986 19
  • Charles H. Gough, American politician, Member of California State Assembly 9th District, 1877-80 19
  • Charles Gough, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 1864 19
  • ... (Another 24 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Flight TWA 800
  • Capt. Donald Ellis Gough (d. 1996), from Mill Valley, California, USA, American off-duty TWA employee flying aboard flight TWA 800 from J.F.K. Airport, New York to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome when the plane crashed after takeoff ; he died in the crash 20
  • Mrs. Raili Anneli Gough (d. 1996), (d. 1996), from Mill Valley, California, USA, American off-duty TWA employee flying aboard flight TWA 800 from J.F.K. Airport, New York to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome when the plane crashed after takeoff ; she died in the crash 20
Halifax Explosion
  • Master Gerald  Gough (1908-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
  • Miss Edward  Gough (1910-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
  • Mrs. Maud  Gough (1872-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
  • Mr. Arthur McQuade  Gough (1877-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 21
  • Master Gordon  Gough (1913-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
  • ... (Another 5 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Hood
  • Mr. John M Gough (b. 1901), English Colour Sergeant serving for the Royal Marine from Folkestone, Kent, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 22
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Norman Gough, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 23
HMS Royal Oak
  • Thomas Edward Gough (1922-1939), British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 24
  • Edwin Joseph Gough (1916-1939), British Stoker 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 24
Prince of Wales colliery
  • Mr. John Gough (b. 1863), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 25
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. 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.
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  7. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  8. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  9. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  10. 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)
  11. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 30)
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  15. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Adamant voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1821 with 144 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adamant/1821
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  19. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  20. The Washington Post Passenger List TWA Flight 800. (Retrieved 2018, February 15th). Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/twa800/list01.htm
  21. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  22. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  23. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  24. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  25. Entombed in flood and flame (retrieved 3rd August 2021). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20120603025705/http://www.crosskeys.me.uk/history/prince.htm
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