Goodwin Family Crest, Coat of Arms & Goodwin Name Origin

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Origin of the Name Goodwin

The ancient history of the name Goodwin was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives. Goodwin is a baptismal name meaning 'good friend'. Variants include Goodwyn and Godwin. This name is of Anglo-Saxon descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland , Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout the above islands. Examples of such are a Lucas Godwin, Cambridge, and an Alice Godewin, Oxford, who were recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls', England , in the year 1273. A Willemus Godewyn was recorded in the 'Poll Tax' of the West Riding of Yorkshire, in the year 1379. The 'Goodwin Sands' received its title from Godwin, Earl of Wessex to whom the land belonged. In Scotland the name is found in the Shires of Ayr, Lanark, and Stirling. A Godwin, dapifer, and Mr. Godwin known as 'Camerarius of the Bishop', witnessed a quitclaim by Robert, Bishop of Saint Andrews, in the year 1127. In Ireland the name is found in Ulster having been introduced there from England centuries ago. Goodwin is also an occasional variant of the names McGoldrick and McGuigan in County Tyrone, and exists in County Mayo as an anglicized form of the Gaelic O'Goidin.