This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Godard.' This personal name obtained a strong footing in England, and has left a large number of descendants. It corresponds to the German Gotthard (v. Yonge).

Godard de Thurton, Norfolk, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Simon Goddard, London, ibid.

John fil. Godard, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Peter Godard, Norfolk, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

Goddard Freebodye, temp. Elizabeth: Calendar of Proceedings in Chancery, temp. Elizabeth I.

(a) Nick. 'the good herd'; compare Goodgroom, Goodknave, &c.

Symon Godhird, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Alicia Goderd, 1379: ibid.

It is doubtful whether this sobriquet had much influence on (1), which is the true parent of our Goddards.

1716. Baptised — Joseph, s. Joseph Godard: St. Michael, Cornhill.

This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the goatherd'; Anglo-Saxon gat and herd, as in cowherd, shepherd; v. Herd. Gothard in Yorkshire is undoubtedly the descendant of some old goatherd who took his surname from the occupation.

'Burning of Goddesbrigg, 3000 kine and oxen, 4000 sheep and gate,' 1587: Nicolson and Burn, History Westm. and Cumb.

Symon Godhird, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Johannes Gaytbyrd, 1379: ibid.

John Godherd, Yorkshire, 1470. W. II.

Robert Gaytherd, Yorkshire, 1472, ibid.

Roland Gateard, Yorkshire: Fabric Rolls of York Minster: Wills and Inventories (Surtees Society).

Robert Gatherd, Yorkshire, ibid.

Of course Goddard (which see) has a different origin from the above, but none the less is it certain that in some cases Gothard has assimilated itself thereto.

From the Old English personal name Godheard, god-firm,' ME. Godard. Now a rere surname in Scotland. Robert filius Godardi was one of an inquest made at Peebles, 1262 (APS., I, p. 101 red). William Godarde, a charter witness, 1320 (Inchcolm, p. 32). Peter Godard 'bruer' a Scot, had letters of denization in England, 1480 (Bain, IV, 1465). James Goderd admitted burgess of Aberdeen, 1493 (NSCM., I, p. 36). Peter Gouderd, feltmaker, bergess of Edinburgh, 1734 (Guildry, p. 149).

(English) Goat-Herd [Old English gát + hierde] This name is also a partly Anglicized form of the German Gotthard (God-Firm).

Godardus appears in Domesd. as a personal name. The ancestor of the Goddards of Cliffe and Swindon are said to have been seated in Wiltshire before temp. Rich. II. R.L.G.

1. Either Godard, the personal name, or Goat-herd. 2. A foolish fellow. North. Halliwell. Probably because the occupation of keeping goats required little skill. Conf. Coward.

The ancient name of Goddard, which was represented by Godard in Domesday (L.), is, with the exception of its representatives in Derbyshire, now mostly confined to the southern half of England. It is most numerous in Berks, Suffolk, Hants, and Dorset, and is also established in Norfolk, Middlesex, and Wilts. In the 13th century it occurred as Godard in Bucks, Middlesex, Cambridgeshire, and other counties (H. R.). Probably some of the Berkshire Goddards are of Wiltshire origin. The father of a gentle family of this name, who was buried in Hungerford Church in the middle of the 17th century, came from Standen Hussey, Wilts (A.). Suffolk has been for centuries the principal home of the name in East Anglia.

Goddard was the name of a Gillingham family in the 17th century (H.). Richard Goddard was mayor of Poole in 1559 (S.). The name is still in Gillingham.

Goddard was the name of two representatives of Southampton in Parliament in the reign of Elizabeth. Henry Goddard, gent., resided at Battramsley in the reign of Charles II., and at the same time a gentle family of the name lived in Winchester; there was a Goddard in Strathfieldsaye in the reign of Edward III. (W.). Edward Goddard, gent., resided at Eastwood Hay, Hants, in the beginning of the 17th century (Ashmole's "Berkshire"). Further particulars concerning the Goddards of other counties will be found under "Berks," "Suffolk," "Wilts," etc.

Goddard has been for centuries a characteristic Suffolk name. In the reign of Elizabeth several freeholders in the county bore this name (Lansd.). In the 13th century it occurred as Godard in the adjoining county of Cambridge.

Wiltshire has long been one of the principal homes of the Goddards. The ancestors of the Goddards of Cliffe and Swindon are said to have been seated in the county before the reign of Richard II. (L.); and Hoare refers to a John Goddard of Swindon, who lived 200 years ago The name was in Donhead St. Mary, Wilts, in the reign of Anne. A family of Goddard, hailing originally from Southampton, possessed the Birchenwood estate, Bramshaw, Dorset, from 1588 to 1714 (H.). The past and present distribution of the name is given under Berks.