Show ContentsGouldman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Gouldman

What does the name Gouldman mean?

The distinguished surname Gouldman emerged among the industrious people of Flanders, which was an important trading partner and political ally of Britain during the Middle Ages. As a result of the frequent commercial intercourse between the Flemish and English nations, many Flemish migrants settled in Britain. In early times, people were known by only a single name. However, as the population grew and people traveled further afield, it became increasingly necessary to assume an additional name to differentiate between bearers of the same personal name. One of the most common classes of surname is the patronymic surname, which was usually derived from the first name of the person's father. Flemish surnames of this type are often characterized by the diminutive suffix -kin, which became very frequent in England during the 14th century. The surname Gouldman is derived from the Old English personal names Golda or Golde, which were supplemented by the augmentative suffix -man. Goldmann is first recorded on an Essex coin dating from around the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. 1

"Goldman was the appropriate name of a moneyer temp. William I." 2

Early Origins of the Gouldman family

The surname Gouldman was first found in Essex at about the time of the Conquest. Later, Adam Goldeman was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297 and later again, Maud Goldman was listed in 1393. 1

In Scotland, "the name of a family long notable in the mercantile annals of Dundee, and supposed by some to have come from Flanders. Goldman, however, is an Old English personal name. The first of the name mentioned in Dundee records is James Goldman, admitted burgess in 1562." 3

Early History of the Gouldman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gouldman research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1605, 1614, 1633, 1634, 1637 and 1688 are included under the topic Early Gouldman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gouldman Spelling Variations

Flemish surnames are characterized by a large number of spelling variations. One reason for this is that medieval English lacked definite spelling rules. The spellings of surnames were also influenced by the official court languages, which were French and Latin. Names were rarely spelled consistently in medieval times. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to specific spelling rules, and people often had their names registered in several different forms throughout their lives. One of the greatest reasons for change is the linguistic uniqueness of the Flemish settlers in England, who spoke a language closely related to Dutch. The pronunciation and spelling of Flemish names were often altered to suit the tastes of English-speaking people. In many cases, the first, final, or middle syllables of surnames were eliminated. The name has been spelled Goldman, Golman, Gouldman and others.

Early Notables of the Gouldman family

Prominent in the family at this time was

  • Francis Gouldman (d. 1688?), the English lexicographer, was probably the son of George Gouldman, D.D. (d. 1633-1634), Archdeacon of Essex, and vicar of Stepney, Middlesex. 4

Migration of the Gouldman family

The records on immigrants and ships' passengers show a number of people bearing the name Gouldman: Elizabeth and Sophia Goldman arrived in Philadelphia in 1804; John Goldman arrived in Pennsylvania in 1743; Simon Goldman settled in Delaware in 1855.


Contemporary Notables of the name Gouldman (post 1700) +

  • William J. Gouldman, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 19th District, 1990 5


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. 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)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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