GOULD
Gould is an English surname of considerable antiquity, with its earliest documented appearance in the 12th century. The name originates from the Middle English words gould or gold, which directly refer to the precious metal.
In the Anglo‑Saxon period the surname may have derived from the personal names Golda (masculine) or Golde (feminine), meaning gold. Such a personal name would likely have been bestowed upon an individual noted for brilliant golden hair or a shining, almost golden complexion. The surname may also arise from a metonymic occupational designation, identifying a goldsmith, jeweller, refiner or gilder who worked with gold. The occupational origin is consistent with the manner in which many mid‑12th Century job‑descriptive surnames became hereditary.
Early documentary evidence records the name in the Pipe Rolls of Devonshire of 1165, where a record refers to Walter Golde. Subsequent mentions appear in the Domesday Book of 1086, with a Hugo fili aliorum Golda noted in Suffolk, and in the 1193 Bedfordshire Pipe Rolls a Ralph filius Golde is recorded.
Variations of the surname include Gould, Goult and Gold. These variants are reflected in parish registers of late‑16th and early‑17th Century London; for instance, Ann Gould was christened on 11 December 1580 at St. Andrew's Holborn, and Margaret Goult was christened on 14 May 1663 at St. Giles' Cripplegate.
The heraldic symbol most commonly associated with the name bears a shield divided per saltire in gold and blue, surmounted by a lion rampant counterchanged. The crest consists of a blue demi‑lion rampant bezantee. Although not every bearer of the surname has employed this heraldry, it represents the tradition of armorial bearings that many families of this age have adopted.
Typical given names associated with the Gould surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jennifer
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Rachel
- Rebecca
- 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 Gould in...
Braille
⠛⠕⠥⠇⠙
Morse
--.---..-.-..-..
Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Gould are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Chocolate Hobnob.
There are approximately 21,047 people named Gould in the UK. That makes it the 412th most common surname in Britain. Around 323 in a million people in Britain are named Gould.
Surname type: Nickname
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Gould
- Edd Gould - Animator (1988 to 2012)
- Elliott Gould - American actor
- Boon Gould - Musician (1955 to 2019)
- John Gould - Ornithologist and illustrator (1804 to 1881)
- Bobby Gould - Football player and manager
- Nolan Gould - American actor
- Phil Gould - Musician
- Bryan Gould - Politician
- Diana Gould - Ballet dancer (1912 to 2003)
- Martin Gould - Snooker player
- Jonathan Gould - Scottish football player
- Rupert Gould - Royal Navy officer (1890 to 1948)
- Matthew Gould - Ambassador of the United Kingdom
- Andrew Gould - Businessman
- Philip Gould, Baron Gould of Brookwood - Political consultant (1950 to 2011)
- Steve Gould - Musician
- Ian Gould - Cricket umpire
- Michael Gould - Actor
- Elizabeth Gould - Artist, illustrator and lithographer (1804 to 1841)
- Peter Gould - Evan Pugh Professor Emeritus of Geography at Penn State University (1932 to 2000)
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.