This interesting surname, of Anglo-Saxon origin, has a number of possible interpretations. Firstly, it may derive from the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name "Goddaeg", composed of the elements "god" meaning good with "daeg" day. It may also be a nickname for someone who made frequent use of the greeting "good day". Forms such as John de (of) Goday (see below) suggest that it may occasionally be a locational name, from some minor place named with Olde English elements "god" meaning good with "(ge)haeg" enclosure; hence "dweller by the good enclosure". Locational names were originally given as a means of identification to those who left their village or place of origin to settle elsewhere. The "de" may also be honorific, indicating gentry status. The surname may also be found in the variant spellings Goodey, Goody, Goodday and Goodie. On July 13th 1621 George, son of William and Ann Gooday, was christened at St. Andrew's Church, Holborn, London. A Coat of Arms granted to the family is silver, a black wavy fesse between two black leopard's faces, the Crest being an ermine greyhound sejant, collared and lined, reflexed over the back and tied in a knot gold. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John de Goday, which was dated 1327, in the records of Staffordshire, during the reign of King Edward 111, "The Father of the Navy", 1327-1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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