Goddard
An English occupational surname for a goatherd or keeper of goats, derived from the Middle English "godarde".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 18,132 Americans carry the last name Goddard. That puts it at #2,335 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 5.29 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 18,903 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Goddard 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
18K
1 in 18,903
Census rank
#2,335
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
5.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
16K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 15,599 bearers of the surname Goddard in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 5.29 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2335th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Goddard, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.5%. The next largest groups are Black (8.5%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Goddard
The surname Goddard originated in England and has its roots in the Old English words 'god' meaning good and 'ard' meaning hardy, brave or vigorous. It was initially an occupational name for a prosperous or well-respected person.
The earliest recorded mentions of the Goddard surname can be traced back to the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The Domesday Book of 1086 lists several individuals with variations of the name, including Godardus, Godart, and Godhard.
During the Middle Ages, the Goddard family established themselves in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire. The name was also associated with several place names, such as Goddards Green in Buckinghamshire and Goddard's Farm in Hampshire.
One of the earliest documented Goddards was William Goddard, who lived in the 12th century and held lands in Wiltshire. Another notable figure was John Goddard, born around 1450, who served as the Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1489.
In the 16th century, Robert Goddard (c. 1500-1570) was a prominent merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London. His grandson, also named Robert Goddard (1558-1625), became a successful sea captain and fought against the Spanish Armada in 1588.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, several Goddards fought on both sides of the conflict. One notable Parliamentarian was Guido Goddard (1609-1688), who served as a colonel in the army of Oliver Cromwell.
In the 18th century, Ambrose Goddard (1743-1824) was a renowned English chemist and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of the steam engine and the manufacturing of gunpowder.
Another famous bearer of the Goddard surname was the pioneering American rocket engineer and physicist, Robert Hutchings Goddard (1882-1945), who is widely regarded as the father of modern rocketry and space flight.
Throughout history, the Goddard family has produced numerous notable individuals across various fields, including politics, military, science, and business, leaving an indelible mark on the rich tapestry of English and American history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Goddard
Among Census respondents with the surname Goddard, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.5%. The next largest groups are Black (8.5%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Goddard 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 Goddard surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.5%
- Black or African American8.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Two or more races1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Goddard 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 | #2,335 | #2,335 | 0.0% |
| Count | 15,599 | 15,599 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 5.29 | 5.29 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Goddard bearers went from 15,599 to 15,599 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #2,335 to #2,335.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Goddard
FAQ
Goddard surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Goddard?
The surname Goddard holds position #2,335 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 18,132 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 5.29 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Goddard surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Goddard, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.5%. The next largest groups are Black (8.5%) and Hispanic (2.5%). 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.