Surname Gouge - Meaning and Origin
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Gouge: What does the surname Gouge mean?
The last name Gouge is of English and French origin, and it is an occupational name that originated from Old French and Middle English. The name Gouge is derived from the word “gouger,” which was used to describe someone who worked with a special type of tool, a gouge, which is an axlike cutting or hollowing tool with a curved blade.
In the Middle Ages, a gouger was a surprisingly important profession as they used the tool to shape wood into furniture and fittings, various tools, and structures like ships and barges. In metal, a gouge was also used to cut hollows or channels and was therefore also employed in ironworking, stonemasonry, and the minting of coins.
Since the industrial revolution, the profession of gouging has declined significantly but the surname remains in some parts of the world as a reminder of the importance of the profession. Today, the name Gouge is usually associated with someone who has a strong work ethic, excellent craftsmanship, and attention to detail.
Order DNA origin analysisGouge: Where does the name Gouge come from?
The last name Gouge doesn't seem to be especially common today. It is primarily found in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2020, the United States Census Bureau found 1,650 individuals with the name.
In the United States, Gouge is most common in the Appalachian Mountains and western Salem, South Carolina. One theory is that the name originates from the French word "gauche," which means "left hand," and was likely used to describe a person who was "left-handed." Another theory suggests that it may have originated from a Scottish word meaning "trip or stumble," possibly to describe a clumsy or accident-prone person.
Gouge is also present in the United Kingdom, where it is primarily seen in the West Country (Devon, Cornwall and Somerset). Descendants of the Normandy invasion can also be found in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Isle of Man.
In Canada, the last name is most common in the province of Nova Scotia, though it can also be found in other areas. It is also found in Australia and New Zealand, where it is the Anglicized form of a Dutch/German surname.
Overall, Gouge is not a particularly common name today, though it is still present among descendants of Norman and Gaelic origin in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as Appalachian and western Salem, South Carolina.
Variations of the surname Gouge
Gouge is an English surname which is an occupational name derived from a job-related characteristic. The name is also spelled as Gauge, Gooch and Gouch, and is most commonly found in England and North America. Its variants include Goucher and Gougher, which are derived from the patronymic habits of some English people. These variants most likely refer to someone who was the son of “Gou(g)e”. The spelling of the surname was also affected by dialect.
The name Gouge is of uncertain derivation and may be an occupational name for a maker of measuring tools. The name "Gouge" is derived from the Old French “gouge,” meaning “gouge,” a tool used to enlarge or shape a hole in wood. The name can also be derived from the Norman-French, “gauge,” meaning to measure or regulate. Alternately, it could derive from the Old English “gobban,” meaning “a gawker or sidesman.”
Variants of the name Gouge include Gauge, Gooch, Gouch, Goucher, and Gougher. Variations in spelling of the name Gouge were due to the literacy of the person who signed their name, and may have led to mistakes when the surname was recorded. Alternately, Gouge may be a misspelling for “Gough” or “Goff,” both of which are similar sounding and spelled surnames.
Famous people with the name Gouge
- Bronce Gouge: an American major league baseball player in the 1930s.
- Robert Gouge: an Australian architect known for his work on the Sydney Opera House.
- Bill Gouge: an American football player and coach who served as the head coach of the University of Colorado Buffaloes.
- Anna Gouge: an Australian singer and songwriter.
- April Gouge: an American artist specializing in sculpture, drawing, and mural painting.
- Reid Gouge: a former Canadian Football League player who played for the Calgary Stampeders.
- Steve Gouge: an American filmmaker who produces sports-related programming for ESPN and other networks.
- J.W. Gouge: an American educator and the 11th president of the University of North Carolina.
- Edgar Gouge: a 19th-century English sculptor who produced a variety of works, including tombs and memorials for churches.
- Charles Gouge: an American special effects and makeup artist, best known for his work on the films Robocop, Ghostbusters II, and The Howling.