The Goheen Family History

What Does the Goheen Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Goheen, with origins in both Ireland and Wales, is believed to derive from the Gaelic term ‘gaoithin’ as well as the Welsh variant ‘guiheen’. This surname exhibits several spelling variations, including Godineau, Godinet, Goohen, Gowheen, Goodpaster, Gohin, Godden, and Godinot. In Ireland, families bearing the Goheen name were primarily located in County Roscommon, with additional presences in Counties Leitrim and Sligo. The earliest records of Goheen families in the United States indicate that Pennsylvania was their initial settlement area. Subsequently, this surname has been recorded in states such as New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan, Kansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, California, and Washington. Notable individuals with the Goheen surname include Ty Goheen, a professional baseball player; John C. Goheen, who received accolades as National Press Photographers Association and Television News Photographer of the Year; George C. Goheen, recognized for his role as a designer and builder of defense housing in California during the 1940s and 1950s; and Robert F. Goheen, who served as president of Princeton University from 1957 to 1972.