GOODHEW
The surname Goodhew is of English origin. It is derived from the Old English words god meaning “good” and hēah meaning “high” or “tall”. As such, it functioned as an occupational surname, originally applied as a nickname to a person who was considered of good character or held a position of authority and high social standing.
Alternative explanations consider the name a nickname for a trusted servant. In this derivation the medieval English gode gives “good” and hewe denotes a servant, itself descended from the Old English hiwan – members of a household. A further possibility, recognised by the earliest extant records, is that the name sprang from the Old Norse personal name Gudhugi, a compound of gud (battle) and hugi (mind or spirit). The personal name “Godhuge” is first recorded in Suffolk in 1095, with the surname appearing nearly a century later.
Variations of the spelling have been documented in the medieval period. The forms Godhou (circa 1240) and Godhewe (circa 1311) are found in contemporary sources. In the modern era the name takes the spellings Goodhew, Goodhue and Goodhugh. The earliest definitive recording of the family name occurs in the Domesday book of St. Pauls, dated 1181, where it appears as that of Robert Godhugh during the reign of King Henry II (1154–1189).
The linguistic evidence suggests that the surname Goodhew signified a person of good character or high standing, and may have been adopted for individuals who served in trusted positions within households or occupied roles of respect and authority. The name continues to be used in contemporary Britain, retaining its historical spelling variants.
Typical given names associated with the Goodhew surname
Male
- Brian
- Christopher
- David
- Ian
- John
- Mark
- Martin
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Philip
- Richard
- Robert
- Simon
- Thomas
Female
- Charlotte
- Emma
- Ge
- Jean
- Laura
- Lesley
- Linda
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Goodhew in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 972 people named Goodhew in the UK. That makes it roughly the 7,536th most common surname in Britain. Around 15 in a million people in Britain are named Goodhew.
Famous people named Goodhew
- Duncan Goodhew - Swimmer, Olympic gold medallist
- Victor Goodhew - Politician (1919 to 2006)
- Peter Goodhew - Microscopist
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.