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

Goodbear, 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 Goodbear surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Goodbear in America

Goodbear is the 147253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Goodbear surname appeared 112 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Goodbear.

The history of the last name Goodbear

The surname GOODBEAR is of English origin, dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from a combination of the Old English words "god" meaning good or virtuous, and "bera" meaning bear, likely referring to someone with a strong or bear-like physical presence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Warwickshire, England, where a certain John Goodbear was listed as a landowner in 1592. This suggests that the name may have originated in the Warwickshire region or nearby areas.

In the 17th century, the name GOODBEAR is found in several historical documents, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662, where a Thomas Goodbear is recorded as a resident of the village of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. This connection to Shakespeare's birthplace may indicate a possible link between the name and the literary world of the time.

Notable individuals bearing the GOODBEAR surname include Sir William Goodbear (1624-1699), a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London, who was knighted by King Charles II in 1668. Another noteworthy figure was Elizabeth Goodbear (1736-1812), a renowned herbalist and midwife from the village of Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire.

In the 18th century, the GOODBEAR name appears to have spread beyond its English origins, with records showing a John Goodbear (1755-1832) emigrating to the American colonies and settling in Virginia. His descendants would later play a role in the American Revolutionary War.

Other notable individuals with the GOODBEAR surname include Robert Goodbear (1802-1879), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Manchester, England, who founded several schools and orphanages in the city, and Mary Goodbear (1867-1948), a pioneering female journalist and suffragette, who campaigned tirelessly for women's rights in early 20th century Britain.

Throughout its history, the GOODBEAR name has been associated with various professions and achievements, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have borne it over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Goodbear

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

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 Goodbear 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.

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

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

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