Gowthorpe Surname

The Origin of the Surname Gowthorpe

The surname Gowthorpe is of English origin and is thought to be locational, deriving from the place called Gowthorpe in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The place name itself is believed to mean "the farmstead or village of Guthhere" in Old Norse, with "Guthhere" being an Old English personal name.

Early Records of the Gowthorpe Surname

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Gowthorpe can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a Johannes de Gowthorpe is listed. Over the centuries, the surname has appeared in various records and documents, often spelled in different ways such as Gowthorp, Goathorp, and Gothorp.

Gowthorpe in England

Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of individuals with the surname Gowthorpe can be found in England, particularly in the East Riding of Yorkshire where the original place name is located. The incidence rate of the surname in England is 155, making it a relatively uncommon surname in the country.

Gowthorpe in New Zealand

Despite its English origins, the surname Gowthorpe has also made its way to other English-speaking countries such as New Zealand. With an incidence rate of 13 in New Zealand, the surname has a small but notable presence in the country.

Gowthorpe in France

In France, the surname Gowthorpe is relatively rare with an incidence rate of 12. It is possible that individuals bearing the surname in France have English or Anglo-Norman ancestry, as the surname's origins can be traced back to England.

Gowthorpe in Canada

Canada is home to a small number of individuals with the surname Gowthorpe, with an incidence rate of 10. The presence of the surname in Canada may be attributed to migration patterns from England or other English-speaking countries where the surname is found.

Gowthorpe in Australia

With an incidence rate of 2, the surname Gowthorpe is quite uncommon in Australia. Despite this, there are individuals with the surname living in Australia, adding to the global distribution of this unique surname.

Variant Spellings and Related Surnames

As mentioned earlier, the surname Gowthorpe has been recorded with various spellings over the years. Some of these include Gowthorp, Goathorp, and Gothorp. These variant spellings may have emerged due to differences in pronunciation, dialect, or literacy levels among individuals recording the surname.

Related surnames to Gowthorpe may include Guthrie, which has a similar sound and possibly has shared origins with Gowthorpe. Other related surnames could include Thorpe, derived from the Old Norse word "þorp" meaning "village" or "hamlet," which is a common element in English place names.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the surname Gowthorpe is a unique and relatively uncommon surname of English origin. While primarily found in England, the surname has also made its way to other English-speaking countries such as New Zealand, Canada, and Australia. The various spellings and related surnames of Gowthorpe provide insight into the evolution and distribution of this distinctive surname throughout history.

The surname Gowthorpe within the globe

Globalization has meant that surnames distribute far beyond their country of origin, so that it is achievable to find African surnames in Europe or Indian surnames in Oceania. Exactly the same happens in the case of Gowthorpe, which as you can corroborate, it can be said that it is a surname which can be found in most of the countries associated with globe. In the same manner you will find nations in which certainly the thickness of men and women with all the surname Gowthorpe is more than in other countries.

The map of this Gowthorpe surname

1. England (155)
2. New Zealand (13)
3. France (12)
4. Canada (10)
5. Australia (2)