Show ContentsGould History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Gould is tied to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England. It comes from the Old English word Gold. This term was often used as an endearment or show of affection. 1

"This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Gold.' from the Anglo-Saxon word gold, metaphorically precious." 2

Another source notes the name denotes a "descendant of Gold or Golda, Old English personal names derived from the metal." 3

Early Origins of the Gould family

The surname Gould was first found in Suffolk where Hugo filius Goldce was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. 4 "Golde and Goldus are personal names in the Domesday Book" 2

Other early records include: Ralph filius Golde registered in the Pipe Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1193; Golde Bassat in the Hundredorum Rolls of Cheshire in 1279; Walter Golde in the Pipe Rolls for Devon in 1165; Ralph Golde in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1268; and John Gulde in Cornwall in 1297. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls has the name listed as a forename and a surname: Adam Gold; Golda Imayn; and Golda Bassat, Cambridgeshire. 2

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls includes Willelmus Golde, 1370; and Ricardus Gold, 1379.

In Scotland, more often than not, the name is spelt Guild and variants of the same. It is generally thought that Goold (Gold) is a variant. 5 3

Here, the first record was of Alexander Gulde who rendered to Exchequer the accounts of the bailies of Stirling, 1421 and 1425. Thomas Gulde and William Gulid, 'husbandis,' were charter witnesses, 1481, and Henry Guld is mentioned in a Scone document of 1491. 5

Early History of the Gould family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gould research. Another 195 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1193, 1312, 1500, 1502, 1512, 1521, 1584, 1586, 1593, 1619, 1644, 1657, 1659, 1675, 1676, 1678, 1709, 1710, 1734, 1794 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gould History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gould Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Gould has undergone many spelling variations, including Gould, Goold, Gold, Gilder and others.

Early Notables of the Gould family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • James Gould (1593-1676), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1659 and 1676; and Thomas Gould (ca. 1619-1675), the first pastor of the First Baptist Church of Boston in Boston...
  • Sir Henry Gould the Elder (1644-1710), was an English judge, son and heir of Andrew Gould of Winsham, Somersetshire. Sir Henry Gould the Younger (1710-1794), was an English judge, the fourth son of Da...
  • Robert Gould (d. 1709?), the English poet was originally a servant of Charles, Earl of Dorset and Middlesex. 6

Gould World Ranking

In the United States, the name Gould is the 815th most popular surname with an estimated 37,305 people with that name. 7 However, in Canada, the name Gould is ranked the 675th most popular surname with an estimated 7,721 people with that name. 8 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Gould is the 373rd popular surname with an estimated 125 people with that name. 9 Australia ranks Gould as 442nd with 8,496 people. 10 New Zealand ranks Gould as 462nd with 1,491 people. 11 The United Kingdom ranks Gould as 395th with 16,353 people. 12

Migration of the Gould family to Ireland

Some of the Gould family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 116 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Gould migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Gould were among those contributors:

Gould Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Nathaniell Gould, who settled in Virginia in 1620
  • Peter Gould, who landed in Virginia in 1622 13
  • Edward Gould, a pailmaker, who sailed on the "Elizabeth" in 1635 from London and landed in Boston
  • John Gould, who arrived at Charlestown Massachusetts in 1635
  • Jarvice Gould, who arrived in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1635 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Gould Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Maria Gould, aged 78, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1755 13
  • Elizabeth Gould, who arrived in America in 1766 13
  • John Gould, who arrived in Baltimore in 1784 with his wife Ellen Drysdale and their two sons
  • Alexander Gould, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1784 13
  • James Gould, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1784 13
Gould Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Gould, who landed in New York in 1827 13
  • Jean Gould, who landed in New York in 1827 13
  • John Evans Gould, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 13
  • Christopher Gould, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 13
  • Oliver Gould, aged 30, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1849 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gould migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gould Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Gould U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passener number 238 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28,1783 at Staten Island, New York 14
  • Mr. Abraham Gould U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 14
  • Mrs. Catherine Gould U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 14
  • Mr. John Gould Sr., U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784 14
  • Mr. John Gould Jr., U.E. born in Massachusetts, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 14
Gould Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Elizabeth Gould, who lived in Annapolis, Nova Scotia during the eighteenth century
  • Cornelius I Gould, who arrived in Canada in 1831

Gould migration to Australia +

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

Gould Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Gould, British Convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Mr. Benjamin Gould, British Convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 11th August 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • William Gould, a mason, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • Mathew Gould, a wheelwright, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • Mr. John Gould, English convict who was convicted in Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 14th August 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gould 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:

Gould Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Gould, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Prince of Wales" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 3rd January 1843 18
  • Miss Jane Gould, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Stately" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th February 1854 18
  • George Gould, aged 37, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Shamrock" in 1856
  • Mr. Samuel Gould, (b. 1842), aged 20, British gardener travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 19
  • Mr. Daniel Gould, (b. 1845), aged 20, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 1st January 1866 19
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Gould (post 1700) +

  • Morton Gould (1913-1996), American composer, conductor, arranger, and pianist awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1995
  • Glenn Herbert Gould (1932-1982), Canadian pianist who became one of the best-known and most celebrated classical pianists of the twentieth century
  • Thomas Gould (1660-1730), British banker and goldsmith and Quaker, co-founder with John Freame, Freame & Gould, which later became Barclays bank
  • Carol Gould (1953-2021), American writer and broadcaster based in the United Kingdom, a regular commentator on radio and television news channels
  • Desiree Joan Gould (1945-2021), American theater, film and television actress, singer and dancer, best known for her role as Aunt Martha in the 1983 slasher film Sleepaway Camp
  • Kingdon Gould Jr. (1924-2018), American diplomat, businessman, and philanthropist, United States Ambassador to the Netherlands (1973-1976), United States Ambassador to Luxembourg (1969-1972)
  • George Jay Gould (1864-1923), American president of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad and the Western Pacific Railroad
  • Chester Gould (1900-1985), U.S. cartoonist and the creator of the Dick Tracy comic strip
  • Gordon Gould (1920-2005), American physicist widely credited with the invention of the laser
  • Elliott Gould (b. 1938), American actor perhaps best known for playing Trapper John in Robert Altman's satirical 1970 film M*A*S*H
  • ... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)
  • David Gould (1943-1988), American College Professor from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, America, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 20
RMS Lusitania
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Harry Lee Gould, American Seaman First Class from Illinois, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 22


Suggested Readings for the name Gould +

  • The Gould Family and Allied Families: The Goulds and their 146 Great Grandparents by Helen Weaver Gould.

  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  5. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  6. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  9. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  10. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  11. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  12. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  13. 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)
  14. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
  18. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  19. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  20. Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html
  21. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  22. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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