Surname Godbold - Meaning and Origin

Godbold: What does the surname Godbold mean?

The surname Godbold is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has deep historical roots in England. It is a compound of two Old English words, "god" and "bold". "God" represents 'good' or 'God', and "bold" represents 'strong', 'bold', or 'building'. Thus, the literal meaning of Godbold can be interpreted as 'good and bold' or 'God’s building'. It was commonly used as a male personal name during the early medieval period and later evolved into a family surname. Like many surnames from this era, it was likely initially a nickname or a descriptive name. These types of surnames often reflected the physical characteristics or attributes that a person was associated with. Hence, the surname Godbold might have indicated a person who was good, strong, bold, or it might refer to a faithful person (i.e., belonging to God's building).

Godbold: Where does the name Godbold come from?

The surname Godbold is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from Old English personal names. It's a compound of two elements: "god" meaning god, and "beald" meaning bold. So, the name essentially symbolizes 'bold for God' or 'God is bold'.

It is believed to have first been used during the Middle Ages in England. The Norman invasion of England in 1066 led to the creation and propagation of many such surnames. The Godbold surname saw variations like Godbald, Godball, Godbould among others in different regions.

Today, it isn't a very common surname, but you could find individuals bearing the name in the countries that witnessed significant British emigration like the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Although it is widespread, it doesn't hold a high frequency in any specific region. It remains fairly low-key, with a few hundreds of people estimated to bear the surname Godbold worldwide.

Variations of the surname Godbold

The Godbold surname is of Old Norse origin, descendants of the Viking settlers in England. It is derived from the Old Norse personal name Guðbald, which means "divine bold." Alternately, it can also be a locational name for someone from a place named with these elements. Godbold, in its various forms, is common in the East Anglian region of England, particularly in Suffolk.

Variants and other spellings of the Godbold surname include Godbald, Godbolt, and Goodbold. Another spelling variant is Gotbold, although this is less common.

A surname of similar origin and meaning is Godbald. Variants based on possible misspellings or phonetic spellings can include Gothbold, Gothbald, Godbould, and Goodbould.

Since family names can be modified over many generations due to factors like migration, phonetics, or personal preference, it's possible there are other variations of the Godbold surname that are not well-documented.

It's important to note that while surnames have historical origins and meanings, modern usage may not strictly follow these patterns. A person named Godbold might not have any ancestral connection to the Old Norse name, or to East Anglia.

Famous people with the name Godbold

• Jon Godbold: Known as a prominent figure in the field of technology, Jon Godbold has an extensive career in this industry. He is presently serving as the Principal Software Developer at Microsoft.
• Mike Godbold: A well-known figure in politics, Mike Godbold previously served as the Mayor of the city of Tacoma in Washington, United States.
• Eddie Godbold: A noted horticulturist, Eddie Godbold was well-recognized for his work as the Director of Parks and Landscaping for Little Rock city. His impact was so profound that a botanical garden in the city was renamed Eddie Godbold Botanic Garden in his honor after his death.
• Walter Godbold: A former American football player, Walter Godbold played as a quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide in the early 1940s. Note: While individuals with the surname Godbold have made contributions in various arenas, they may not necessarily be considered 'famous' in a conventional sense as they are not globally recognized household names.

Other surnames

Godbolt