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Godley Family History

Godley Name Meaning

English: habitational name found mainly in Yorkshire and Surrey from Godly in Rishworth (Yorkshire) or Godley Bridge in Surrey which was the home of Geoffrey de Godelegh in 1228 and William de Godelegh in 133 However the place in Surrey may have been named after this family as was Godley's Green in Sussex. Godley was the name of a hundred in Surrey but it was not a settlement and the Surrey and Sussex families may have originated outside the county from Godley in Cheshire for example or from Goodleigh in Uffculme (Devon) both of which are known to have given rise to surnames. These are all named from the Old English byname Gōda meaning ‘good’ + Old English lēah ‘woodland clearing’.

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

Similar surnames: Bodley, Gidley, Ridley, Dudley, Coley, Comley, Woodley, Boxley, Onley

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Where is the Godley family from?

You can see how Godley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Godley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Godley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 23 Godley families living in Ontario. This was about 43% of all the recorded Godley's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Godley families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Godley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Godley

What Godley family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 29,000 census records available for the last name Godley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Godley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search Canadian census records for Godley
Passenger Lists
There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Godley. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.
View all Godley immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Godley. For the veterans among your Godley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Godley military records

Census Records

There are 29,000 census records available for the last name Godley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Godley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Godley

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Godley. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Godley immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Godley military records

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What is the average Godley lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Godley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Godley in 1945 was 57, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Godley

Browse profiles of historical people with the Godley last name

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