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

Goff, 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 Goff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Goff in America

Goff is the 1081st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Goff surname appeared 32,298 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 11 people would have the surname Goff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Goff 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 Goff

The surname GOFF originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "gof," which means "fork" or "outlet of a stream." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a fork in a river or stream.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries for people with the surname GOFF or similar spellings, such as Goff, Gough, and Goffe. This indicates that the name was already established in various parts of England by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GOFF is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1202, which mentions a person named William Goff. In the 13th century, there are records of a family with the surname GOFF residing in the parish of Westbury-on-Trym, near Bristol.

Over the centuries, the GOFF name has been associated with various places in England, such as Goff's Oak in Hertfordshire and Goff's Park in Essex. These place names likely derived from individuals with the surname GOFF who lived in or owned land in those areas.

Notable individuals with the surname GOFF include:

1. Thomas Goff (c. 1592 - 1629), an English writer and clergyman who authored several works on theology and philosophy.
2. Ebenezer Goff (1741 - 1821), an American soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War and later served as a state legislator in New Hampshire.
3. Sir Nathan Goff (1843 - 1920), an American lawyer and politician who served as the United States Secretary of the Navy under President Rutherford B. Hayes.
4. Sir Bruce Goff (1904 - 1982), an influential American architect known for his organic and experimental designs, including the Bavinger House in Norman, Oklahoma.
5. Brendan Goff (born 1988), an Australian professional rugby league player who has played for several clubs, including the New Zealand Warriors and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

The surname GOFF has a rich history spanning centuries, with its origins rooted in medieval England. Despite its long-standing presence, it has maintained a distinct identity and continues to be carried by individuals from various walks of life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Goff

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

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 Goff 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 Goff 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 Goff was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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