GODDARD
The surname Goddard is an English family name that can be traced back to the British Isles. It is most commonly found in England and is characterised by its Christian context.
Origin and meaning derive from the Old English personal name Godheard, which literally translates to “God‑hard” or “brave in God.” Alternatively, the same components can be interpreted as god meaning “good” and heard meaning “hardy” or “strong,” giving the sense of “good and strong.” The name therefore conveys qualities of bravery, strength and moral virtue.
After the Norman Conquest in 1066, the name entered Britain in a slightly altered form. Norman settlers introduced the personal name Golhard, composed of the Germanic elements god “good” and hard “hardy, brave, strong.” The name was popularised in Europe by St. Goddard, an 11th‑century bishop of Hildesheim, who founded a hospice on the pass from Switzerland to Italy that bears his name.
The surname is recorded in a variety of spellings throughout the medieval period. In England variants include Godard and Godart; in France it appears as Goudard or Godar; in Germany it is found as Gotthard, Godehard, or Goddert; and in Holland it is documented as Goedhard or Goedhart. The earliest recorded instance in England is in Lincolnshire, circa 1160‑1166, in the name Godardus de Clakesbi. Further early examples from the 13th century are Wlfrich Godard in Norfolk (1221) and Symon Godhard in Cambridgeshire (1221).
Notable bearers of the name include the engraver John Goddard (fl. 1645‑1571). His work, the series Seven Deadly Sins, is held by the British Museum and exemplifies the artistic patronage associated with the family.
A coat of arms for the Goddard family has been granted. It is described heraldically as azure on a fess between three hawks’ heads erased gold, five lozenges conjoined in fess green. This heraldic badge reflects the family’s medieval status and heraldic identity.
Other historical references include the first recorded spelling of the family name in the “Curia Rolls of Hampshire” in 1208 under the name Robert God(d)ard, during the reign of King John (1199‑1216). The surname is recorded as a patronymic in early English documents and appears several times in continental registers, demonstrating its wide geographic distribution after the Norman invasion.
Overall, the surname Goddard is firmly rooted in English tradition, combining Old English and Norman Germanic linguistic heritage with a legacy of religious devotion and artistic contribution. The name’s meaning, variations, and historical records give it a distinct place within the tapestry of British surnames.
Typical given names associated with the Goddard surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Karen
- Linda
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Rachel
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Cadart
- Cadoret
- Cadorette
- Coddard
- Cotard
- Cottard
- Cottart
- Coudert
- Coudret
- Coudriet
- Cuadrado
- Gadard
- Gaddard
- Gataurda
- Gatrad
- Gautrot
- Ghodrat
- Ghodrati
- Godair
- Godar
- Godara
- Godard
- Godart
- Goddar
- Goddards
- Goddart
- Godddard
- Godder
- Godderd
- Godhard
- Godthard
- Godward
- Goodard
- Gooddard
- Gooderd
- Goodered
- Goodhart
- Goodread
- Goodred
- Goodreid
- Goodrid
- Goodride
- Goodroid
- Gothard
- Gottard
- Gottardi
- Gottardo
- Goudard
- Gouedard
- Goutard
- Guddard
- Guitard
- Guitart
- Guittard
- Gutteride
- Keddart
- Keetarut
- Kudrati
- Kuitert
- Quadrat
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Goddard in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 22,346 people named Goddard in the UK. That makes it the 380th most common surname in Britain. Around 343 in a million people in Britain are named Goddard.
Surname type: Occupational name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Goddard
- Stuart Leslie Goddard - Musician
- Trevor Goddard - Boxer and actor (1962 to 2003)
- Liza Goddard - Television and stage actress
- Trisha Goddard - Television presenter
- Robert Goddard - Novelist
- Paulette Goddard - American actress (1920 to 1990)
- Paul Goddard - Australian actor
- Rayner Goddard, Baron Goddard - Judge (1877 to 1971)
- Willoughby Goddard - Actor (1926 to 2008)
- Geoff Goddard - Songwriter, singer and instrumentalist (1937 to 2000)
- Paul Goddard - Football player and manager
- Alexa Goddard - R&B singer
- Jim Goddard - Film and TV director (1936 to 2013)
- James Goddard - Swimmer, Olympic athlete, Commonwealth Games gold medallist
- John Goddard - Football player
- Karl Goddard - Football player
- Andy Goddard - Director and screenwriter
- Victor Goddard - Royal Air Force air marshal (1897 to 1987)
- Simon Goddard - Journalist
- Alf Goddard - Actor (1897 to 1981)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.