The Goff Family History

What Does the Goff Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Goff has its roots in the German, English, Welsh, and Irish linguistic traditions. Deriving from the Old German word ‘goff,’ the name signifies a priest, a divine figure, or a formidable warrior. Variants of the Goff surname include Gough, Goffstein, McGoof, Goffe, Gaugh, Gawf, and McGough. In England, Goff families are widely distributed, with a significant presence in counties such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, Norfolk, Essex, Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, Dorset, and Devon. In Scotland, the highest concentrations of individuals bearing the Goff surname can be found in the southern regions of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and Midlothian. In the United States, early Goff settlers predominantly established themselves in states including New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Texas, and Mississippi. Noteworthy individuals with the surname Goff include Mike Goff, a professional baseball player and manager; Liam Goff, an English footballer; Stan Goff, an author; Robert Lionel Archibald Goff, Baron Goff of Chieveley, a judge in Berkshire; Trish Goff, a fashion model; Phil Goff, leader of the New Zealand Labour Party; Robert Lamar Goff, a professional football player; Bruce Goff, an architect known for his significant contributions to buildings in Illinois and Oklahoma; and Jonathan Goff, also a professional football player.