Gouge Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Gouge Origin:

England

Origins of Gouge:

Listed in many spelling forms such as Gough, Gouge, Gouch and Gooch, this interesting and unique surname is of old English. It has two possible origins, and both are ultimately Gaelic or Celtic. The first origin of the name may be a professional name acquired from the pre 7th-century old Gaelic word “gobha,” or the Cornish-Breton word “goff,” the meanings of both words are a laborer in iron. As Gooch and sometimes Gouch, it is considered to be spread widely in the area of England known as East Anglia, the name there brought from Brittany by the supporters of Duke William of Normandy, at or after the Norman invasion of England in 1066. The second origin of the name may derive from another Gaelic or a Celtic word “coch,” which means red. It was widely used in ancient pre-Wales and also England, as a love name for someone with red hair or dark coloring. It may also have been a cultural name of abuse for the Anglo-Saxon attackers of the 5th century, who moved to England in the 6th century and defeated many Olde English into Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany, France. The surname is one of the oldest listed with examples from early lists and documents containing as Felicia Goch in the rolls known as the “Calendar of Inquisitones post mortem”, in Gloucestershire in 1305, the Premium Rolls of Essex in 1327 mention a John Guch and William Gugge, and the court rolls of the borough of Colchester record John Gooch in 1374. Thomas Gouge (1609-1681) an outstanding name ancestor, got an education at Eton and Kings College Cambridge and gave the best work for the poor.

Variations:

More common variations are: Gougie, Ghouge, Gouige, Gougea, Gougey, Goge, Guge, Gougeau, Gougeou, Gauge.

England:

The surname Gouge first appeared in Roxburghshire. One of the first documentations of the name first appeared in France related to its Norman tradition as Martin Gouge (c. 1360-1444), was a French judge. However, some of the family appeared further south at Billesley in Warwickshire in old times.

The very first recorded spelling of the family was shown to be that of Robert Goch, dated about 1203, in the records known as “Pleas before the King or his justices for the division of Shropshire.” The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation. It came to be known as Poll Tax in England. Surnames all over the country began to develop, with unique and shocking spelling varieties of the original one.

Ireland:

Many of the people with surname Gouge had moved to Ireland during the 17th century.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Gouge settled in the United States in three different centuries respectively in the 17th, and 18th. Some of the individuals with the name Gouge who landed in the United States in the 17th century included Ino Gouge, who landed in Virginia in 1650. Philip Gouge, who landed in Maryland in the year 1658.

People with the surname Gouge who settled in the United States in the 18th century included James Gouge landed in Boston, Massachusetts in the year 1712. John Gouge arrived in Virginia in the year 1714.

Australia:

People with the surname Gouge who settled in Australia in the 19th century included C. Gouge arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship “William Hyde” in the year 1849.

New-Zealand:

Some of the individuals with the surname Gouge who settled in New Zealand in the 19th century included Frederick Gouge at the age of 26 and George Gouge at the age of 20 both arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Bombay” in 1865.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Gouge: United States 3,087; France 723; England 247; Canada 146; Australia 145; India 23; New Zealand 21; Scotland 2; Algeria 1; South Africa 1.

Notable People:

Thomas Gouge was an English Presbyterian priest.

Martin Gouge was a French chancellor.

William Gouge (1575–1653) was an English priest and writer.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

Notes: (Wales). Blazon: Az. three boars pass. ar. Crest—On a dexter gauntlet in fesse a hawk, wings expanded, all ppr.