Goodwyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Goodwyn

What does the name Goodwyn mean?

Goodwyn is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from the baptismal name Godwin, which comes from the Old English name "Go-dwine," composed of the elements "go-d," meaning "good," and "wine," meaning "friend," collectively meaning "God friend." 1 2

Early Origins of the Goodwyn family

The surname Goodwyn was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very early times. Godwin or Godwine (d. 1053) was the Earl of Wessex, chief adviser to King Canute, who held great wealth and lands in those times. His son Harold Godwinson (circa 1022-1066) was Harold II of England, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, killed on October 14 1066 at the Battle of Hastings. Godwin, or Godwine was also the name of an 11th century Bishop of Lichfield, who died in 1020. 3

Early rolls show the many spellings used throughout ancient Britain beginning with the Domesday Book of 1086 where we find Ailmar filius Goduini. 4 Years later in Yorkshire, we found Ricardus filius Godwini in the Assize Rolls of 1219. In Norfolk, the Pipe Rolls of 1177 list Walter Godwin as holding lands there at that time. In Cambridgeshire, the Feet of Fines for 1327 list Robert Gudwen and in the same year, William Goudwyne was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex. In Worcestershire, William Godewynes was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327 and back in Yorkshire, we found John Gudwyn listed as a Freeman of York in 1388. 2

Early History of the Goodwyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Goodwyn research. Another 165 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1177, 1219, 1273, 1296, 1327, 1500, 1517, 1562, 1590, 1594, 1597, 1600, 1603, 1605, 1633, 1641, 1654, 1655, 1659, 1660, 1662, 1665, 1670, 1674, 1677, 1680, 1695, 1719, 1730 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Goodwyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goodwyn Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Goodwyn have been found, including Godwin, Goodwin, Goodin, Gooding, Goodings, Goodwyn, Godwyn, Godwine, Goodwine, Goddwin, Goddwyn, Goddywne and many more.

Early Notables of the Goodwyn family

Distinguished members of the family include Thomas Godwin (1517-1590), Bishop of Bath and Wells, born in 1517 at Oakingham, Berkshire, of poor parents; Francis Godwin (1562-1633), English divine, Bishop of Llandaff and of Hereford; John Goodwin (1594-1665), an English preacher, theologian and prolific author; John Goodwin (1603-1674), an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1641 and 1660, supporter of the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War; Peter Gooden (died 1695), an English Roman Catholic priest; Thomas Godwin (died 1677), a Virginia politician and landowner, served in the House of Burgesses 1654-1655...
Another 98 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Goodwyn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goodwyn Ranking

In the United States, the name Goodwyn is the 11,066^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Goodwyn family to Ireland

Some of the Goodwyn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 84 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goodwyn migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Goodwyn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

F. A. Goodwyn, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Zealandia" in 1881

Contemporary Notables of the name Goodwyn (post 1700) +

Wade William Goodwyn (1960-2023), American journalist and national desk correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR)
S. Bernard Goodwyn (b. 1961), American Justice on the Supreme Court of Virginia
Colonel Peterson Goodwyn (1745-1818), American soldier, politician and planter from Virginia, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 18th congressional district (1803-1813)
Albert Taylor Goodwyn (1842-1931), American politician, U.S. Representative from Alabama
Robert T. Goodwyn, American politician, Delegate to Alabama convention to ratify 21st amendment from Montgomery County, 1933 6
R. T. Goodwyn Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alabama, 1948 6
Peterson Goodwyn (1745-1818), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Virginia State House of Delegates, 1789-1802; U.S. Representative from Virginia, 1803-18 6
J. H. Goodwyn, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from South Carolina, 1912 6
Albert Taylor Goodwyn (1842-1931), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Alabama State House of Representatives, 1886-87; Member of Alabama State Senate, 1892-96; U.S. Representative from Alabama 5th District, 1896-97 6
Alfred George Goodwyn (1850-1874), India-born, English Royal Engineer and footballer who represented England in the 1872 match
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Goodwyn Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fide et virtute
Motto Translation: By fidelity and valour.

Citations +

Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html