A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Goodenough family of England.
Reg. 4963 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Vert a lion ramp. or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Goodenough Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Goodenough arms are recorded
The Goodenough arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 Goodenough 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 England.
Origin & History of the Goodenough Family in England
The surname Goodenough originated in England as a descriptive nickname during the Middle Ages. It was likely given to a person who was considered reliable, virtuous, or generally pleasant to be around. By the time the family was established in York in 1620, the name had become a permanent hereditary surname passed down through generations. Families with this name were often part of the growing merchant or artisan classes in northern England. They lived through a period of significant social and religious change as the city of York transitioned from a medieval hub into a center of early modern trade. Because the name was rooted in a positive character trait, it remained a common way to identify individuals within their local communities long before formal census records were kept.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Godenogh
Old English words for good and enough or sufficient.
This name
GoodenoughA descriptive nickname for a person who was considered satisfactory or virtuous.
also spelled
Goodenow
Goodenowe
Goodinough
Related arms
Bohunrecorded with Goodenough, same area
Bubbrecorded with Goodenough, same area
Halowtonrecorded with Goodenough, same area
Harclarecorded with Goodenough, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
