Godard
A French occupational surname derived from the Old French word "godart" meaning "keeper of livestock, cowherd."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,131 Americans carry the last name Godard. That puts it at #25,136 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.33 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 303,054 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Godard surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.1K
1 in 303,054
Census rank
#25,136
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
987
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 987 bearers of the surname Godard in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.33 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 25136th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Godard, the largest self-reported group is White at 76.5%. The next largest groups are Black (18.1%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Godard
The surname GODARD originated in France during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French given name "Godard" or "Godhart," which itself comes from the Germanic elements "god" (meaning "god") and "hard" (meaning "hardy" or "brave"). This name was likely given to a child with the hope that they would grow up to be god-fearing and courageous.
The earliest recorded instances of the GODARD surname date back to the 12th century in various regions of northern France, such as Normandy, Picardy, and the Île-de-France. In some ancient records, the name was spelled slightly differently, such as "Goudard" or "Godart."
One of the earliest known bearers of the GODARD name was Jehan Godard, a merchant and landowner who lived in the town of Rouen in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was Renaud Godard, a French knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 14th century.
In the 15th century, the GODARD surname began to appear in records from other parts of Europe, such as England and Switzerland, likely due to migration and trade. One prominent individual from this era was Jean Godard (c. 1455-1528), a Swiss Renaissance scholar and humanist who taught at the University of Basel.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, several GODARD families established themselves in various parts of France, including Burgundy and Brittany. One notable member of this era was René Godard (1564-1633), a French lawyer and judge who served as a counselor in the Parlement of Dijon.
In the 18th century, the GODARD surname continued to spread throughout France and other parts of Europe. One famous bearer of the name was Jean-Baptiste Godard (1775-1825), a French architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Palais Brongniart.
As the GODARD name travelled across Europe and beyond, it evolved into various spellings and variations, such as Goddard, Godar, and Godart. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in its French heritage and the concepts of divine protection and bravery.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Godard
Among Census respondents with the surname Godard, the largest self-reported group is White at 76.5%. The next largest groups are Black (18.1%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Godard bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Godard surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White76.5%
- Black or African American18.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
- Two or more races1.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Godard surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,136 | #25,136 | 0.0% |
| Count | 987 | 987 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.33 | 0.33 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Godard bearers went from 987 to 987 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #25,136 to #25,136.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Godard
FAQ
Godard surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Godard?
The surname Godard holds position #25,136 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,131 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.33 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Godard surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Godard, the largest self-reported group is White at 76.5%. The next largest groups are Black (18.1%) and Hispanic (2.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.