2000
#134,929
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Goodnature
A surname suggesting an amiable, kind, or agreeable temperament.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 135 Americans carry the last name Goodnature. That puts it at #143,511 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,538,921 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Goodnature surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
135
1 in 2,538,921
Census rank
#143,511
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
118
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 118 bearers of the surname Goodnature in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 143511th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Goodnature, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.2%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Goodnature
The surname Goodnature has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the place name "Goodnature" or a similar variation. This place name likely referred to a settlement or area characterized by its pleasant or fertile environment, reflecting the "good nature" of the land.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Goodnature can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the 13th century, where a person named Roger de Godeneyghebour was mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of surnames during that era, often reflecting regional dialects and phonetic adaptations.
In the 14th century, the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire mentioned a William Godeneighbor, further solidifying the presence of the surname in various parts of England. The Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1327 also listed a John Godeneyhebur, indicating the surname's spread across different counties.
Notable individuals with the surname Goodnature throughout history include Sir Thomas Goodnature (1542-1612), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Gloucestershire. He was known for his philanthropic endeavors and contributions to local communities. Another figure was Elizabeth Goodnature (1678-1741), a respected author and poet from Warwickshire, whose works garnered critical acclaim during her lifetime.
In the 16th century, the surname appeared in the form "Goodneybor" in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Taunton, Somerset. This variation highlights the fluidity of surname spellings during that period, often influenced by local dialects and scribal interpretations.
The surname Goodnature has also been associated with place names such as Goodnature's Farm in Oxfordshire, which dates back to the 17th century. This connection to specific locations further reinforces the locational origin of the surname.
Other notable individuals with the surname Goodnature include Sir William Goodnature (1689-1768), a prominent military officer who served in the British Army during the War of the Spanish Succession. Additionally, there was Reverend John Goodnature (1712-1784), a respected clergyman and scholar from Gloucestershire, known for his extensive writings on theology and philosophy.
While the surname Goodnature may have evolved over time, its origins can be traced back to medieval England, reflecting the pleasant and fertile nature of the areas where it first emerged. The various historical references and individuals mentioned showcase the enduring legacy of this surname throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Goodnature
Among Census respondents with the surname Goodnature, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.2%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Goodnature bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Goodnature surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.5% · 108
- Two or more races4.2% · 5
- Hispanic or Latino2.5% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Goodnature
Goodnature appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#131,379
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 129
+14 bearers (+12.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 3,550 places
2020
#143,511
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
-11 bearers (-8.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 12,132 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #134,929 | 115 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #131,379 | 129 | 0.04 | +14 bearers (+12.2%) | Up 3,550 places |
| 2020 | #143,511 | 118 | 0.04 | -11 bearers (-8.5%) | Down 12,132 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Goodnature surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #131,379 | #143,511 | -9.2% |
| Count | 129 | 118 | -8.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -1.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Goodnature bearers went from 129 to 118 (-8.5% change). The surname moved down 12,132 positions in the national ranking, going from #131,379 to #143,511.
FAQ
Goodnature surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Goodnature?
Name Census estimates that about 135 living Americans carry the surname Goodnature. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,538,921 residents.
How common is Goodnature?
Goodnature ranks #143,511 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 118 people with the surname Goodnature. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (135), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Goodnature.
Has Goodnature become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Goodnature went from 129 recorded bearers to 118. That is a decrease of 11 (-8.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #131,379 to #143,511.
What does the Census say about the background of Goodnature?
Among Census respondents with the surname Goodnature, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.2%) and Hispanic (2.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Goodnature in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.5% (108 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Goodnature appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.5%), Two or More Races (4.2%), Hispanic (2.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Goodnature (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Goodnature mean?
A surname suggesting an amiable, kind, or agreeable temperament. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Goodnature (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Goodnature?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.