This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Goodwill family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Goodwill Family History

Goodwill Surname Meaning

English (North Yorkshire): nickname for a friendly or amiable person from Middle English god(e) gud(e) goud(e) ‘good’ + wil(le) ‘will volition’.

The compound is attested in the sense ‘favorable disposition’ since before the Norman Conquest.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Goodwill family from?

You can see how Goodwill families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Goodwill family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Goodwill families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 388 Goodwill families living in Yorkshire. This was about 62% of all the recorded Goodwill's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Goodwill families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Goodwill surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Goodwill ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Goodwill. 18% of Goodwill men worked as a Farmer and 81% of Goodwill women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Goodwill were Window Cleaner and Housewife.

View Census Data for Goodwill | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Farmer
    18%
  • Master Builder
    11%
  • General Labourer
    11%
  • Window Cleaner
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • Household Duties
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Goodwill family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 15,000 census records available for the last name Goodwill. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Goodwill census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Australian census records for Goodwill

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Goodwill. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Australia, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Goodwill immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Goodwill. For the veterans among your Goodwill ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Goodwill military records

You've only scratched the surface of Goodwill family history

Discover More

What is the average Goodwill lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Goodwill life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Goodwill in 1951 was 24, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Goodwill

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Goodwill ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Goodwill family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial