Goater Family History

For someone who lived by a stream or ditch from Middle English gote ‘watercourse’ + the suffix -(e)r. This type of formation is characteristic of Sussex and Hants but the name there may alternatively belong with (2) or (3) or may later have been confused with them.

Variant of Goddard or more likely confused with it. From Middle English goter ‘goatherd’ a derivative of Middle English got(e) ‘goat’ (Old English gāt). Compare Gater.

Reduced form of Middle English gotherd ‘goatherd’ see Gothard. The following post-medieval bearers may alternatively belong with (1) or (2).