Surname Goodrich - Meaning and Origin

Journey to the Roots: Uncover the Historical Depth of the 'Goodrich' Name with iGENEA DNA Test

Joining a quest for my roots with an iGENEA DNA test, I unearthed fascinating links to my family name, Goodrich. The test, an alchemy of science and history, gracefully revealed a complex and diverse lineage tied to my surname, reshaping my understanding of my past.

P. Goodrich

Goodrich: What does the surname Goodrich mean?

Goodrich is a surname of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from two Old English elements. 'God' or 'good' meaning ‘good’ and 'ric' meaning ‘power’ or ‘rule’. So, the surname Goodrich can be interpreted to mean "the good ruler" or "powerful through goodness". Found predominantly in English-speaking countries, it dates back to England before the Norman Conquest in 1066. In some cases, it is a locational surname derived from a place named Goodrich in Herefordshire, England. The place name itself means "Goda’s reign", from the name of a person and 'ric' meaning reign. The word 'Goda' was a common pre-Christian or early Christian personal name, from the god of war, 'Gōđ', or 'guda' meaning "god". Some variations of the surname include Goodrick, Goodricke, and Goderich.

Goodrich: Where does the name Goodrich come from?

The last name Goodrich originates from Anglo-Saxon England. It is a location-based surname derived from the town of Goodrich in Herefordshire. In old English, Goodrich translates to 'Goda's rule', with 'Goda' as a personal name and 'ric' meaning rule or kingdom. The origins of this surname can be traced to the ancient era of the Middle Ages, around 7th to 12th centuries.

Today, the Goodrich surname is common in the United States, having been carried by early settlers from England in the 17th century. It can be found in higher concentrations in states like California, Michigan, and New York. In the UK, it still retains its prevalence, particularly in regions of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, where the original town of Goodrich is located. In recent years, it's also somewhat common in Australia and Canada. However, its frequency is relatively lower in non-English-speaking countries.

Variations of the surname Goodrich

The surname Goodrich is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English personal name Godric, composed of the elements "god" meaning “good” and "ric" meaning “power." It could have also been a local name for someone who resided near a "good ridge."

The surname Goodrich has been spelled various ways throughout history due to changes in pronunciation, dialect differences, and spelling changes over time. Some of its variants include Goodrick, Goodricke, Godric, Godrich, and Goodridge. Other phonetic spellings can include Gutteridge and Gotheridge. These could vary according to regional accents and interpreting handwriting in historical documents.

The family name Goodrich also spread to other countries like Ireland and Scotland. The influence of different languages and cultures resulted in further variations and adaptions of the name. Some possible distant variants include the German surname Gottreich, which also means 'good power.'

As surnames developed, families often used "son" or "s" at the end of the father's name denoting son of, such as Goodrichson or Goodrichs.

In the U.S, you may also find African American families with the Goodrich surname, largely due to acquiring the last names of slave owners during the era of slavery.

Famous people with the name Goodrich

• Benjamin Franklin Goodrich: An American industrialist in the rubber industry, founder of the B.F. Goodrich Company.
• Samuel Griswold Goodrich: A 19th-century American author better known under his pseudonym, Peter Parley.
• Loyal B. Goodrich: An American politician who served as Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts.
• Caspar F. Goodrich: A rear admiral in the United States Navy who also served as commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.
• Chauncey Allen Goodrich: An American linguist and lexicographer recognized for his work 'Webster's Dictionary'.
• Lloyd Goodrich: An American art historian, author and curator, most known for his work at the Whitney Museum of American Art.
• Benjamin Goodrich: A Marine Corps Brigadier General during World War II.
• Frances Goodrich: An American dramatist, best known for her collaborations with her partner Albert Hackett.
• James P. Goodrich: An American politician who served as the 29th Governor of Indiana.
• Leigh Goodrich: A dancer and film actress of the silent era.
• Diane Carson-Goodrich: An American poet and author of science fiction and fantasy.
• Luke Goodrich: A legal scholar.
• Anson Goodrich: A frontiersman of the American Old West and one of Wyatt Earp's deputies in Tombstone, Arizona.
• Calvin Goodrich: A U.S. Air Force Brigadier General and judge advocate.

Other surnames

GoodrickGoodrickeGoodridge