Goldsworthy Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Goldsworthy Origin:

England

Origins of Goldsworthy:

This uncommon West Country name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and a geographical surname acquiring from either Galsworthy, in Devonshire, or from the places in the churches of Crowan and Gwennop, Cornwall, called Goldsworthy. The place in Devonshire noted in the Domesday Book of 1086 as “Galeshore.” The name acquires from the Olde English pre 7th Century “gagol,” which means sweet wind, marsh myrtle, with “ora,” which means bank, hill. The second component adapted to the common West Country place name ending “-worthy,” from the Olde English “worth,” which means a document, agreement. The Cornish placenames are so called from the Cornish components “gol,” which means field, with “erewy,” which means fair. So, the whole meanings of the name are “an open space where celebrations held.” Some of the new forms of the surname from these origins are Galsworthy, Golsworthy, Goldsworthy, and Galsery. Examples from Devonshire Parish Records contain William Galsworthy (1540, Parkham), Thomas Galsworthie (1558, Hartland) and the wedding of Grace Goldsworthy and Robert Pomerie in November 1611, at Honiton on Otter.

Variations:

More common variations are: Gouldsworthy, Goldasworthy, Goldesworthy, Goldsworithy, Goldsworthyy, Goldsworthey, Goldsworth, Goldesworth, Goldswarthy, Koldsworth.

England:

The origins of the surname Goldsworthy appeared in Devon where people held a family seat from early times. Someone say better before the invasion of Normans and the entrance of Duke William at Hastings 1066 A.D.

The very first recorded spelling of the family was shown to be that of Thomas Gallysworthy, dated about 1524, in the record of “Hoskins and Feinberg, Devonshire Studies.” It was during the time of King Henry VIII, who was known to be the “Bluff King Hal,” dated 1509-1547. 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.

Ireland:

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

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Goldsworthy landed in the United States in two different centuries respectively in the 17th, and 19th. Some of the people with the name Goldsworthy who arrived in the United States in the 17th century included John Goldsworthy who settled in Virginia in 1654.

The following century saw more Goldsworthy surnames arrive. Some of the people with the name Goldsworthy who arrived in the United States in the 19th century included

Caroline, Elizabeth, Harritt, Jane, Joanna, John, Mary, Richard, Thomas Goldsworthy, all arrived in New York state in 1842. Caroline Goldsworthy, Elizabeth Goldsworthy, Harrill Goldsworthy and Jane Goldsworthy, all landed in New York, NY in 1842.

Australia:

Some of the individuals with the surname Goldsworthy who landed in Australia in the 19th century included George Goldsworthy, English prisoner from Surrey, who shifted aboard the “Albion” in May 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia. James Goldsworthy arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship “Lady Bruce” in 1846. Richard Goldsworthy also arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship “Lady Bruce” in the same year 1846. William Goldsworthy arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship “Aboukir” in 1847. Elizabeth Goldsworthy arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship “Constance” in 1848.

New-Zealand:

Some of the population with the surname Goldsworthy who arrived in New Zealand in the 19th century included John Goldsworthy, Elizabeth Goldsworthy, Elizabeth Goldsworthy, John Goldsworthy and Mary Goldsworthy, all arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Bolton” in the same year 1840.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Goldsworthy: Australia 2,083; England 1,479; United States 1,440; New Zealand 462; Canada 391; South Africa 384; Wales 271; Germany 202; Scotland 92; Chile 90.

Notable People:

Adrian Goldsworthy (born 1969), is a British archaeologist.

Andy Goldsworthy (born 1956), is a British artist.

Anna Goldsworthy (born 1974), is an Australian artist and writer.

Bill Goldsworthy (1944–1996), was a Canadian ice hockey player.

Burrington Goldsworthy (c.1705–1774), was an 18th century English Representative at Leghorn and later Cadiz.

Harry E. Goldsworthy (born 1914), was an American Air Force officer.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Reg. College of Arms, May, 1779). Per pale or and ar. three mullets in bend sa. betw. two bendlets gu. Crest—An eagle’s head erased per pale or and ar. holding in the beak a holly leaf vert.
2) Ar. on a bend cotised sa. three martlets or. Crest—A griffin’s head erased sa. holding in the beak a holly leaf vert.