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Origins of the Goodwin surname

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What does the name Goodwin mean?

Goodwin is an English surname. It has Anglo-Saxon roots and has been used in Britain in some form since before the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the personal name 'Godwine' (friend to God) and would be given to the lineage of those of that forename. It is noted to be particularly prevalent in Staffordshire.

Alternative variations of the name Goodwin

Goodwin, Godwin, Godwine, Goodwine, Goodwen

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Where do most Goodwins live?

In 1921, most Goodwins lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Goodwins

How common is your surname?

243rd most common surname in the UK

We have 164,000 records for the Goodwin surname. The oldest one dates back to 1538.

Who were Goodwins most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Joneses

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Goodwins.

What are the most common Goodwin first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Goodwin family members

Common jobs for Goodwins

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Goodwins in 1921
Dressmaker

723

Domestic Servant

418

Laundress

386

General Servant Domestic

347

General Servant

295

Common Male occupations for Goodwins in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

712

Farmer

663

Coal Miner

655

General Labourer

570

Carpenter

413

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We found over 250,000 family trees with the Goodwin surname

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