Family name origins & meanings

• English (mainly southern) : from a Middle English personal name, a survival of Old English Gōdcild, composed of the elements gōd ‘good’ + the late Old English name-forming element cild (see Child). This name may also have been used in the Middle English period as a nickname for a good person.
• English : nickname from godchild, i.e. someone who was the godchild of an important member of the community. Compare Godson, which was similarly confused with Goodson.
• English translation of German Gutkind (see Gutkin).