Goodall Family History

English (mainly Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire): metonymic occupational name from Middle English god(e) ‘good’ + ale ‘ale’; perhaps denoting an innkeeper or tan ale taster.

An ale taster was a manorial or borough court official appointed to regulate the quality of ale sold by inns and alewives, especially with the duty of preventing the sale of sour or watered-down ale.

Alternatively, it may be a habitational name from Gowdall near Snaith in Yorkshire.

This place was named in Old English with golde ‘marigold’ + halh ‘nook, recess’.