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

Goldsby, 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 Goldsby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Goldsby in America

Goldsby is the 16494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Goldsby surname appeared 1,742 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 Goldsby.

We can also compare 2010 data for Goldsby 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 Goldsby

The surname Goldsby has its origins in the English county of Yorkshire. It is believed to have emerged in the 13th century, derived from the Old English words "golda" meaning "golden" and "by" referring to a farmstead or village. This suggests the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in a settlement known for its golden-colored buildings or surroundings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the 1379 Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls, which lists a "Johannes de Goldesbye." This spelling variation provides insight into how the name evolved over time. The nearby village of Goldsbrough, first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Goludesburch," may also be related to the surname's origins.

In the 16th century, records show a John Goldsby born in 1521 in Yorkshire. He was a prominent landowner and farmer, leaving behind a sizable estate upon his death in 1598. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Goldsby (1642-1718), a wealthy merchant and politician who served as the Mayor of York in 1692.

Moving into the 17th century, the Goldsby name started to spread throughout England. William Goldsby (1660-1732) was a respected clergyman and author, publishing several religious texts during his lifetime. In the 18th century, Elizabeth Goldsby (1738-1814) was a notable author and poet, known for her works celebrating nature and rural life.

As the name continued to disperse, it also made its way across the Atlantic. One of the earliest recorded instances in America was John Goldsby (1765-1842), who settled in Virginia and became a successful farmer and landowner. Another notable American bearer of the name was General William Goldsby (1788-1867), a military officer who served in the War of 1812 and later became a prominent figure in Tennessee politics.

Throughout its history, the surname Goldsby has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, from landed gentry and clergymen to authors and military leaders. While the exact origins may be lost to time, the name's connection to the golden-colored settlements of Yorkshire remains a defining characteristic of its rich heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Goldsby

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!