This is an English locational surname. It originates from either the villages of Golbourne in the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire, or it is from some now "lost" medieval site probably in North Lancashire. The derivation is from the Olde English pre 7th century "golde" meaning the plant marigold, which grew as a weed in many areas, and "burna", a north country word for a slow moving stream or possibly a marshy area. The word had a slightly different meaning in different areas. The villages are first recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book in the spelling of Colborne, and later in 1187 as Goldeburn. The surname is first recorded in the 14th century, and thereafter appears regularly although in many different spellings, in the various rolls, charters and church registers of the two counties. These spellings include Golbourn, Goldbourn, Goodbarn, Goodburn, Goodbourn, Goulebourne, and others. Early examples of the surname recording include Emma Golborne and Richard Holland, who were married at Chester, on July 19th 1567, and Ales Goodbourn, who married John Barnes at Ulverston, Lanacashire, on June 1st 1580. Other recordings include Katherine Goulbourne, who married Richard Price, at Chester, on July 17th 1671, and James Goodbourn, who was a witness at St John's church, Preston, on November 3rd 1811. The first recorded spelling of the surname in any form is believed to be that of Richard de Goldburn, which was dated 1332, in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire. This recording was during the reign of King Edward 111rd, known as "The Father of the English Navy", 1327 - 1377. Throughout the centuries surnames in every country have continued to "develop" in their spelling, often leading to astonishing variants of the orginal form.

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