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

Goodspeed, 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 Goodspeed surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Goodspeed in America

Goodspeed is the 13815th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Goodspeed surname appeared 2,188 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 Goodspeed.

We can also compare 2010 data for Goodspeed 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 Goodspeed

The surname Goodspeed is of English origin, originating in the Middle Ages. It derives from the Old English words "god" meaning good and "spede" meaning success or prosperity. The name likely referred to someone who was prosperous or successful.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the 13th century. Records from this era show variations in spelling such as Godspede, Godespede, and Goodspede. One of the earliest references is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a William Godespede.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a John Godspede. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332 also mention a Thomas Godespede.

The surname Goodspeed can be traced back to places like Goodspeed in Worcestershire and Goodspeed Park in Hampshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling and spread of the surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Goodspeed throughout history include:

1. Edgar J. Goodspeed (1871-1962), an American theologian and scholar who translated the Bible into modern English.
2. Thomas Waties Goodspeed (1888-1966), an American educator and theologian who served as the president of the University of Chicago from 1944 to 1953.
3. George Stephen Goodspeed (1860-1923), an American entrepreneur and businessman who founded the Goodspeed Machine Company in Massachusetts.
4. Reverend James Goodspeed (1825-1906), an American Methodist minister and author who wrote extensively on religious topics.
5. Eliza Goodspeed (1818-1896), an American abolitionist and activist who worked to end slavery and promote women's rights.

The surname Goodspeed has been found in various historical records across England, including parish registers, tax records, and court documents. Its endurance over centuries reflects the significance and prosperity associated with this name throughout English history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Goodspeed

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

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

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

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