Goff
Encyclopedia
Goff is a surname with several distinct origins. It is the 946th most common family name
in the United States
. When the surname originates from England it is derived from an occupational name from German
, Cornish
and Breton
the German Goff, meaning a godly person, a strong warrior, or a priest. The Breton goff, meaning "smith" (cognate
with Gaelic
gobha). The English-originating surname is common in East Anglia
, where it is of Breton origin. The Welsh name is a variant of the surname Gough, and is derived from a nickname
for someone with red hair
. The native Irish name is derived from a patronymic form of the Gaelic personal name Eochaidh / Eachaidh, which means "horseman".
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. When the surname originates from England it is derived from an occupational name from German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Cornish
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
and Breton
Breton language
Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany , France. Breton is a Brythonic language, descended from the Celtic British language brought from Great Britain to Armorica by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages. Like the other Brythonic languages, Welsh and Cornish, it is classified as...
the German Goff, meaning a godly person, a strong warrior, or a priest. The Breton goff, meaning "smith" (cognate
Cognate
In linguistics, cognates are words that have a common etymological origin. This learned term derives from the Latin cognatus . Cognates within the same language are called doublets. Strictly speaking, loanwords from another language are usually not meant by the term, e.g...
with Gaelic
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
gobha). The English-originating surname is common in East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
, where it is of Breton origin. The Welsh name is a variant of the surname Gough, and is derived from a nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
for someone with red hair
Red hair
Red hair occurs on approximately 1–2% of the human population. It occurs more frequently in people of northern or western European ancestry, and less frequently in other populations...
. The native Irish name is derived from a patronymic form of the Gaelic personal name Eochaidh / Eachaidh, which means "horseman".
Notable Goffs
- Bruce GoffBruce GoffBruce Alonzo Goff was an American architect distinguished by his organic, eclectic, and often flamboyant designs for houses and other buildings in Oklahoma and elsewhere.-Early years:...
, architect - Frederick R. GoffFrederick R. GoffFrederick Richmond Goff was an American rare book librarian and specialist in incunabula.-Early life and education:Goff was born in Newport, Rhode Island, on April 23, 1916...
, librarian - Jacques Le GoffJacques Le GoffJacques Le Goff is a prolific French historian specializing in the Middle Ages, particularly the 12th and 13th centuries....
, French historian - Jonathan GoffJonathan GoffJonathan Goff is an American football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Giants in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Vanderbilt.-Early years:Jonathan Goff was born to Gwendolyn Tyre and Tobie Goff in Atlanta,...
, American football player - Kenneth GoffKenneth GoffKenneth Goff was a Christian Identity minister and anti-Communist crusader. He was the 1944 national chairman of Gerald L. K. Smith's Christian Youth for America. According to his biographical material, he was a member of the Communist Party of the United States of America from May 2, 1936, to...
, American anti-communist - Mike Goff, professional baseball player/manager
- Mike Goff (football player), American football player
- Phil GoffPhil GoffPhilip Bruce Goff is the current Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party. During the Fifth Labour Government, he served in a number of ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Defence of New Zealand, Minister of Corrections, Minister of Foreign Affairs and...
, current leader of the Labour Party of New Zealand - Robert Goff, Baron Goff of ChieveleyRobert Goff, Baron Goff of ChieveleyRobert Lionel Archibald Goff, Baron Goff of Chieveley PC DCL FBA is a retired British Judge.Lord Goff, High Steward of the University of Oxford, retired in 1998 as Senior Law Lord after more than a decade as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in the House of Lords...
- Robert Goff (football player)Robert Goff (football player)Robert Lamar Goff was a professional American football player for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. The defensive lineman was a fourth-round draft pick in the 1988 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of Auburn....
, American football player - Sir Park Goff, 1st Baronet, British Conservative party politician, MP
- Stan GoffStan GoffStan Goff is a writer, activist, and United States Army veteran having served from 1970 to 1996. He has been an anti-imperialist activist, feminist, socialist, and is now a Christian and a pacifist. He is the co-author of the weblog Feral Scholar, along with D. A...
, author - Trish GoffTrish GoffTrish Goff is an American model. She has appeared on the cover of a variety of international editions of Vogue and in several Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows. She returned from a two year catwalk hiatus to close for Alexander Wang in February 2009. She also starred in the 2005 movie Noise with...
, fashion model - Katie Goff, 2006 National Roller Derby Champion