Map of England showing where the Goodyear arms are recorded
The Goodyear arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1620.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Goodyear 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the Goodyear Family in England
The surname Goodyear is a descriptive name that likely originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is formed from the Old English words "god" and "yere," which together translate to "good year." This name was often given as a nickname to someone with a cheerful personality or perhaps to a person who was considered a bringer of good fortune. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Goodyear family were well-established in Oxford. During this period, the family was integrated into the local community, where they lived as tradespeople and citizens. The name has remained a recognizable part of English history for centuries, reflecting the common practice of using positive traits or seasonal observations to identify families in early society.
Goodyear Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
God-yere
Old English words for good and year or period of time.
This name
GoodyearA nickname for a person with a cheerful disposition or a good year.
also spelled
Goodyer
Goodyere
Related arms
Gooderevariant spelling
Goodiervariant spelling
Goodyer, or Goodiervariant spelling
Goodyerevariant spelling
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Oxfordshire History Centre, Parish Registers of Oxford City, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
