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Goodenough Family History

Goodenough Name Meaning

English:: (southern England): nickname from Middle English god(e) gud(e) goud(e) ‘good’ + inough ‘abundant; sufficient adequate satisfactory’ (Old English genōh). Possibly bestowed on one who was easily satisfied; it may also have been used with reference to one whose achievements were average ‘good enough’ though not outstanding. alternatively a nickname meaning ‘good lad’ or ‘good servant’ from Middle English gode knave from Old English gōd ‘good’ + cnafa ‘boy servant’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Goodson, Goodbody, Gooden, Goodhue, Goodnough, Golding, Gooding

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Where is the Goodenough family from?

You can see how Goodenough families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Goodenough family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Goodenough families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 191 Goodenough families living in London. This was about 19% of all the recorded Goodenough's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Goodenough families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Goodenough surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Goodenough ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Goodenough. 10% of Goodenough men worked as a Builders Labourer and 78% of Goodenough women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Goodenough were Gardener and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Goodenough | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Builders Labourer
    10%
  • Farmer
    7%
  • Carpenter
    5%
  • Gardener
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Goodenough family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 30,000 census records available for the last name Goodenough. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Goodenough census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Goodenough

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Goodenough. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Goodenough. For the veterans among your Goodenough ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Goodenough lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Goodenough life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Goodenough in 1948 was 54, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Goodenough

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