Godley Surname

The History of the Godley Surname

The surname Godley is of English origin and is thought to have derived from the Old English personal name "Goda" which means "good" or "godly". The addition of the suffix "-ley" indicates a place or clearing, suggesting that the name may have originally referred to a person who lived in or near a good or godly clearing.

Origins and Distribution

The Godley surname is relatively common in the United States, with a total incidence of 2,871 individuals bearing the name. It is also prevalent in other English-speaking countries such as England (1,526), Australia (280), Ireland (216), and South Africa (140).

In non-English speaking countries, the Godley surname is less common, with only a few individuals having the name in countries such as Canada (127), India (8), Chile (7), and New Zealand (7).

Notable Individuals

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Godley. One such individual is Sir Alexander Godley, a British Army general who served in both World War I and World War II. He is known for his strategic military planning and leadership during these conflicts.

Another notable figure with the Godley surname is John Robert Godley, a British politician and founder of the Canterbury Association, which played a significant role in the establishment of the city of Christchurch in New Zealand.

Variant Spellings

Like many surnames, the Godley name has variations in spelling. Some of the common variant spellings include Godlie, Godlee, and Godleigh. These variations may have arisen due to regional accents, dialects, or the evolution of the English language over time.

Meaning and Symbolism

The surname Godley carries with it connotations of goodness, godliness, and virtue. Those who bear the name may take pride in its positive associations and strive to embody the qualities it suggests.

Overall, the Godley surname has a rich history and is a testament to the enduring nature of family names and their cultural significance.

The surname Godley into the world

Globalization has meant that surnames spread far beyond their nation of origin, such that it can be done to get African surnames in Europe or Indian surnames in Oceania. The same happens when it comes to Godley, which as you are able to corroborate, it may be stated that it's a surname that can be present in all of the nations associated with the world. Just as there are countries by which truly the density of men and women aided by the surname Godley is more than far away.

The map regarding the Godley surname

View Godley surname map

The chance of examining for a world map about which countries hold more Godley on the planet, assists us a great deal. By placing ourselves in the map, on a concrete nation, we can see the concrete amount of people aided by the surname Godley, to have in this manner the complete information of the many Godley that you can currently get in that nation. All of this additionally helps us to know not merely where the surname Godley arises from, but also in what way individuals who are originally part of the family members that bears the surname Godley have relocated and relocated. In the same way, it is possible to see in which places they've settled and developed, which is the reason why if Godley is our surname, this indicates interesting to which other countries associated with world it's possible this one of our ancestors once relocated to.

Countries with more Godley on earth

  1. United States United States (2871)
  2. England England (1526)
  3. Australia Australia (280)
  4. Ireland Ireland (216)
  5. South Africa South Africa (140)
  6. Canada Canada (127)
  7. Scotland Scotland (71)
  8. India India (8)
  9. Chile Chile (7)
  10. New Zealand New Zealand (7)
  11. Germany Germany (6)
  12. Spain Spain (6)
  13. China China (5)
  14. Guernsey Guernsey (4)
  15. Peru Peru (4)