Show ContentsGuff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Guff family

The surname Guff was first found in Brittany, originally Armorica in ancient times, where the family has been a prominent family for centuries, and held a family seat with lands and manor. The family were well established in the region of Dol and several members of the family distinguished themselves through their contributions toward the community in which they lived and were rewarded with lands, titles and letters patent confirming their nobility.

Early History of the Guff family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Guff research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1479, 1753 and 1867 are included under the topic Early Guff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Guff Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Goff, Goffart, Goffin, Goffinet, Geff, Geffen, Gaff, Gäfert, Guff and many more.

Early Notables of the Guff family

More information is included under the topic Early Guff Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Guff migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Guff Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Patrick Guff, (Cuff, Gough, Geoff), (b. 1796), aged 24, Irish labourer who was convicted in Roscommon, Ireland for life for rioting, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1840 1

Guff 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:

Guff Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William L Guff, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen Bee" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th February 1871 2


  1. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dorothy
  2. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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