Surname Godson - Meaning and Origin
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Godson: What does the surname Godson mean?
The last name Godson is a patronymic (derived from a father's name) derived from the Middle English given name Godesone which means “son of God”. This surname was an occupational name, given to someone whose father was a priest or monk. In some instances, it may have been given to children of particularly pious parents as a spiritual name.
Godson was particularly common in the north of England, likely due to the Norman influence in that region. The frequency of the name peaked in the 1770s, remaining fairly consistent until late in the 19th century. It was mainly found in the northern counties and, more distinctively, Durham. Today, the surname is still quite common, especially in the North of England.
The surname can be broken down into two parts: god and son. God refers to the Christian deity, son referring to a male child. Historically, families with this last name were Catholic, with some modern bearers being Protestants.
Godson may also be a form of the Hebrew given name Ishmael, meaning “God hears”, but this is not as likely.
Ultimately, the last name Godson is an occupational name that denotes a father who was a priest or monk. It has highly religious connotations. For this reason, many families retain this surname today as a sign of their faith.
Order DNA origin analysisGodson: Where does the name Godson come from?
The last name Godson is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today. Last name data from the Office of National Statistics in England and Wales indicates that in the year 2018, 2,048 individuals used the last name Godson. This number was slightly lower than in the year 2016, when 2,290 individuals were recorded.
The largest population of people with the last name Godson live in the region of Greater London / South East. Here, 541 people with the name were recorded in 2018. Following this region, the West Midlands of England is home to 360 people with the name, the North West has 308 individuals, and the East of England has 303 Godson's.
Outside of the UK, the last name Godson has a presence in a few other countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. In the US, the last name Godson is most common in the states of Texas, California, Ohio, and Florida. The Canadian government does not recognize the name as a surname, and no records of individuals with it have been kept. Australia, however, does recognize the surname, and the last name is found in all of the nation's states and territories.
Overall, the last name Godson is primarily concentrated in the United Kingdom, but does have an international presence in other parts of the world in varying degrees.
Variations of the surname Godson
The surname Godson is derived from the Old English word "God" meaning God and "sunu", meaning "son" or "descendant". The name is thought to have originated as a baptismal name. Many variants, spellings and surnames have evolved or been adopted over the centuries, including Godesone, Goodson, Godesson, Godeson, Godason, Goddissen, Goddesson, Goddinson, Gooddisson, Gooddisson, Goodisson, Goodichon, Goodman, and Goodesen.
Godsone, for example, is a form of the Old English surname Godson, with the suffix "-sone" meaning "son". This appears to have been used by some family branches in the 13th and 14th centuries. Goodson is the most common modern form of the name, found in England and elsewhere. Early spellings of this variant include Gudson and Godesson.
Godeson was also a common spelling in north-eastern England during the Middle Ages, particularly in Yorkshire. This variant is still in use in some areas. Godason, Goddissen, Goddesson and Goddinson are all rare, but distinct, variants of the name that also appear in the early records.
Gooddisson, Goodisson and Goodichon are forms of the surname which were used in the north of England. Goodman is a derivative form of the name, which originated from the Middle English "godman" meaning a priest. Goodesen is a Scandinavian variant of the name used in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.
Famous people with the name Godson
- Paul Godson: Nigerian actor, director and producer.
- Harry Godson: British actor who starred in the films Sherlock Holmes and Game of Thrones.
- Lillian Godson: American comedian and actress.
- Robert Godson: American poet and author.
- Charles Godson: British actor who has performed in numerous television, theatre and film productions.
- Mark Godson: English musician and composer.
- Irving Godson: Jewish American rabbi and author.
- Sarah Godson: American artist and illustrator.
- David Godson: former football player who played 8 seasons in the NFL.
- John Godson: Nigerian political leader and former Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives.