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

Goodner, 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 Goodner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Goodner in America

Goodner is the 13967th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Goodner surname appeared 2,159 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 Goodner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Goodner 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 Goodner

The surname Goodner is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "god," meaning good or virtuous, combined with the suffix "-ner," which denotes an occupation or a person engaged in a particular trade or activity.

One of the earliest known references to the name Goodner can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1275, where a certain Richard le Godenere is mentioned. This spelling variation suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who was a skilled craftsman or artisan, perhaps specializing in the production of high-quality goods.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records across different regions of England, including the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1327, which listed a John Godenere, and the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1349, where a Thomas Godenere was documented.

During the 15th century, the surname Goodner began to take on its more modern spelling variations, such as Goodner and Goodnor. One notable example is a certain William Goodner, who was recorded in the Feet of Fines for Staffordshire in 1450.

As the centuries progressed, the Goodner family became well-established in various parts of England, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such person was John Goodner, a prominent merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 16th century and was involved in the lucrative trade with the West Indies.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in the records of the New World, with the arrival of early settlers in the American colonies. One of the earliest known bearers of the name in America was Thomas Goodner, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and established a successful plantation.

Another notable figure was Samuel Goodner, born in 1662 in Gloucestershire, England, who later emigrated to Pennsylvania and became a respected member of the Quaker community there.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Goodner family continued to contribute to various fields, including agriculture, business, and public service. One such individual was Benjamin Goodner, born in 1785 in Virginia, who served as a respected magistrate and landowner in his community.

While the origin of the surname Goodner can be traced back to medieval England, its bearers have since spread across the globe, carrying with them a rich history and legacy that spans centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Goodner

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

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

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

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