Find out how popular the last name Godley is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Godley.

Godley, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Godley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Godley in America

Godley is the 12362nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Godley surname appeared 2,515 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Godley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Godley to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Godley

The surname Godley is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "god" and "leah," which collectively mean "good clearing" or "good meadow." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone residing near a pleasant or fertile clearing in a woodland area.

One of the earliest references to this surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Godlei." This historical record provides valuable insights into the distribution of the name during the Norman conquest of England. The name was primarily concentrated in the counties of Cheshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire.

In the 13th century, the surname was recorded in various forms, including Godeleye, Godlee, and Godley. These variations reflect the evolution of the name over time, as well as regional spelling differences. The hamlet of Godley in Cheshire, first mentioned in 1284, likely took its name from an early bearer of the surname.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Godley was John Godley, born around 1250 in Cheshire. He was a prominent landowner and is mentioned in several historical documents from the late 13th century. Another notable figure was Sir John Godley (1556-1640), a renowned military leader who served during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the Godley family established themselves as influential landowners in the county of Derbyshire. Thomas Godley (1608-1679) was a successful merchant and purchased the Whittington Hall estate, which remained in the family's possession for several generations.

Other notable individuals with the surname Godley include John Robert Godley (1814-1861), an influential political figure in New Zealand and the founder of the settlement of Canterbury. He served as the first Superintendent of the Canterbury Province and played a pivotal role in shaping the early development of the region.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Sir Hugh Godley (1847-1928), a British Army officer who served in various campaigns, including the Second Boer War and World War I. He was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force in France in 1914 and later served as Governor of Gibraltar.

Throughout history, the surname Godley has been associated with various notable individuals, from landowners and military leaders to political figures and pioneers. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the fascinating journey of this ancient surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Godley

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Godley.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Godley was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Godley has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Godley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Godley, please contact us.

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