Map of England showing where the Goode arms are recorded
The Goode arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1621.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Goode arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Goode Family in England
The surname Goode is rooted in the Old English word *god*, which was used as a descriptive nickname for a person of kind or virtuous character. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the rugged coastal region of Cornwall. Records confirm that members of the Goode family were living in this area by 1621, likely working as farmers, miners, or tradespeople who relied on the local landscape for their livelihood. During this era, surnames were becoming increasingly fixed, and the name served as a way to identify families within their tight-knit village communities. As these families grew, they helped shape the social and economic fabric of the Cornish countryside, leaving behind a legacy that has persisted for over four hundred years.
Goode Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
God
Old English term referring to a deity or supreme being.
This name
GoodeA nickname for a person considered to be virtuous, pious, or kind-hearted.
also spelled
Goad
Related arms
Goadvariant spelling
Lowmanrecorded with Goode, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cinquefoilHope and joy
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cinquefoilHope and joy
