Find out how popular the last name Goodness is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Goodness.
A surname meaning kindness, morality, or benevolence.
Goodness, 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 Goodness surname is from the 2010 census data.
Goodness is the 42455th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Goodness surname appeared 511 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 Goodness.
We can also compare 2010 data for Goodness 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.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 42455 | 43377 | -2.15% |
| Count | 511 | 469 | 8.57% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.00% |
The surname "GOODNESS" is an English locational surname that originated in the medieval era. It is derived from the Old English words "god" meaning good and "ness" referring to a promontory or headland. The name likely originated from a place name referring to a desirable or pleasant location.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was William de Godnesse, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195. The Pipe Rolls were a series of administrative records maintained by the English Exchequer during the Middle Ages, recording financial transactions and matters of taxation.
The surname "GOODNESS" is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. It appears in various forms, such as "Godnes" and "Godnesse," indicating its early presence in the country.
In the 13th century, records show a John de Godnesse who held land in Kent, England. This suggests that the name may have originated from a place name in that region or in nearby areas.
Another notable bearer of the surname was Sir John Goodness, a knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. He participated in several battles against the French, including the Battle of Crécy in 1346.
In the 16th century, a prominent figure with the surname "GOODNESS" was Thomas Goodness, a merchant and alderman in the City of London. He was born in 1525 and played an influential role in the city's trade and governance.
Other historical figures with the surname include:
The surname "GOODNESS" has a rich history rooted in the English landscape and medieval era, with bearers of the name contributing to various fields throughout the centuries.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Goodness.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Goodness was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 81.60% | 417 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 4.31% | 22 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 10.18% | 52 |
| Hispanic Origin | 3.33% | 17 |
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 Goodness has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 81.60% | 85.50% | -4.67% |
| Black | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 4.31% | 6.61% | -42.12% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | 10.18% | 6.18% | 48.90% |
| Hispanic | 3.33% | 1.28% | 88.94% |
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 Goodness was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Goodness, please contact us.
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