Surname Goddard - Meaning and Origin
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DNA Analysis and Ancestral Revelations: An Enlightening Insight into the Goddard Surname
Discovering the historical roots of one's family name through DNA analysis can be an enlightening experience, as I found with the Goddard surname and iGENEA testing. It has been an insightful journey tracing my lineage back to Western Europe.
Z. Goddard
read moreGoddard: What does the surname Goddard mean?
The last name Goddard is of English origin. It originated as a patronymic surname, which is derived from the given name of the father. Consulting a variety of sources, it appears that the given name of the father in this case was Godhard, a name from the pre 7th-century era. It is derived from the Olde English words "god" meaning "good" and "hard" meaning hardy, brave, or strong.
Given this definition, the literal meaning of the name Goddard would be "son of Godhard", or more descriptively, “son of the courageous and strong one”. Historically, this powerful name was often given to the sons of Norse warriors who eventually settled in England. This suggests that the Goddard family was likely of Norse descent. Over time, the name gradually changed from Godhard to Goddard.
Today, the Goddard family is spread out all over the world in places such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Members of the Goddard family are known to be brave, strong-willed, and independent individuals. Many of them excel in various areas be it academic or career-related. They are also known to be quite charitable and supportive of those less fortunate.
Overall, the last name Goddard is a powerful and meaningful name with a rich history associated with it. Its modern-day members can be proud of the courage and strength of their ancestors that earned them such a powerful surname.
Order DNA origin analysisGoddard: Where does the name Goddard come from?
The last name Goddard is widely spread across the United States and Canada. In the U.S., the name is mostly concentrated in the States of New York, California, and Massachusetts. These three states alone account for nearly 34% of all the individuals with this surname. Other states with significant numbers of people bearing the Goddard name are Florida and New Hampshire.
In Canada, the last name has largely be found in Ontario and British Columbia. Within these two provinces, the greatest concentration is in cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Hamilton.
The Goddard surname is much less common in other parts of the world. It is almost non-existent in certain continents like Africa and Latin America and is much rarer in Europe. The last name does have some presence in the British Isles, where it’s seen mainly in England and Wales.
In Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, the Goddard name is relatively rare. However, there has been a steady increase in its prevalence in recent years. People of this origin have moved to these regions in search of better livelihood opportunities.
Overall, the Goddard surname appears to be most common in the United States, Canada, and certain parts of the British Isles. It’s less frequent in other parts of the world, but that seems to be changing as more people migrate from their native countries to places like Australia and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Goddard
The variants, spellings, and surnames of Goddard can be broken down into two main categories: Anglo-Norman and Anglo-Saxon.
The root of the surname Goddard appears to lie in Anglo-Norman origin, as it derives from the French recreated name ‘Godard’ or ‘G@dard’. This surname is thought to be of Germanic origin, derived from the pre-7th century ‘Gothard’. This name is composed of the elements ‘gode’, meaning ‘good’, and ‘hard’, meaning ‘hardy or brave’.
Anglo-Saxon versions of the surname Goddard include Godhard, Godert, Goudard and Goodart, which are all derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century name ‘Godheard’. This name is composed of the elements ‘god’, meaning ‘good’, and ‘heard’, meaning ‘hardy or brave’.
There are some variant spellings of Goddard, such as Goodhard, Goderd, Godar, Goudard and Godehard. Other surnames of the same origin include Goodheart, Goddart and Goodhart.
Overall, the variant spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Goddard have been reconstructed from languages of two different origins: Anglo-Norman and Anglo-Saxon. Multiple spellings can be derived from the core components ‘gode’ or ‘god’ (good) and ‘hard’ or ‘heard’ (hardy or brave). Examples include Godard, Godard, Godard, Godert, Godhard, Goodart, Goodhard, Goodheart, Goudard,Godar, Goddart, and Goodhart.
Famous people with the name Goddard
- Robert Hutchings Goddard (1882-1945): an American engineer, professor, physicist, and inventor who is credited with creating and building the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket.
- Samuel Holden Parsons Goddard, Jr. (1830-1902): an American inventor and industrialist who was granted over 143 patents for various inventions. He is also credited with creating an early form of vacuum brake and the world’s first steam traction engine.
- Sybil Goddard (1916-2009): an English ballerina and choreographer who worked for many famous companies, such as Sadler's Wells Ballet, Festival Ballet, and Royal Ballet.
- Sarah Goddard (19th century): a prolific quilter from Ohio who was well known in her time for creating several quilt patterns that are still popular today.
- Robert Hollender Goddard (1925-2015): an American conductor, composer, and music educator who is best known for founding the Goddard Chamber Players in 1947.
- Dwight Goddard (1861-1939): the founder of The Gentle Art of Cultural Engineering, a Montessori school in Pasadena, California.
- Jessica Dubroff (1987-1996): the youngest person to attempt a transcontinental flight in a single-engine aircraft. She died in a crash at the age of seven and the plane was leased and piloted by Joe Goddard.
- Jhon Goddard (19th century): a British inventor who is credited with inventing and creating the first talking doll.