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Goodsell Family History

Goodsell Surname Meaning

English (Sussex and Kent): habitational name from Gadshill (Kent) or Goodsoal in Burwash (Sussex). Godshill Farm in Cowfold (Wyndham half-hundred Sussex) could be another source but the farm name may have been derived later from the Burwash surname or Godsell.

Probably also an Americanized form of German Gutseel or Gutsell; like 1 these are a nickname for a kindly person (literally ‘good soul’).

Alternatively it could be a shortened Americanized form of South German Gutgsell a nickname or journeyman's name from gut ‘good’ + Gesell(e) ‘fellow journeyman’.

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


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Where is the Goodsell family from?

You can see how Goodsell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Goodsell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Goodsell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 281 Goodsell families living in Sussex. This was about 46% of all the recorded Goodsell's in United Kingdom. Sussex had the highest population of Goodsell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Goodsell 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 Goodsell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Goodsell. 24% of Goodsell men worked as a General Labourer and 78% of Goodsell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Goodsell were General Farm Labourer and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Goodsell | 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

  • General Labourer
    24%
  • Gardener
    9%
  • Farmworker
    8%
  • General Farm Labourer
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Household Duties (unpaid)
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    2%

What Goodsell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 24,000 census records available for the last name Goodsell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Goodsell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Goodsell

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Goodsell. 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.

View all Goodsell immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Goodsell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Goodsell family history

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What is the average Goodsell lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Goodsell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Goodsell in 1954 was 28, and 89 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Goodsell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Goodsell ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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