Explore the Family Name Goodwater
The meaning of Goodwater
1. Americanized form of French Bonneau, translated into English as if it were composed of the elements bon ‘good’ and eau ‘water’ (which may indeed be the meaning of the placename Bonneau). 2. In some cases probably also an Americanized form (translation into English) of German Gutwasser: habitational name from any of numerous places in Bohemia and Moravia named for their supply of good water. History: Benjamin Bonneau from QC became known also as Benjamin Goodwater after he moved to the US in the middle of the 19th century. He died in IA in 1875 .
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Goodwater in the United States?
The surname Goodwater has seen a slight increase in popularity according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In the year 2000, it was the 51,352nd most popular surname with a total of 381 individuals bearing that name, equivalent to 0.14 per 100,000 people. By 2010, the ranking had improved to 49,087 and the count increased to 429, a growth rate of 12.6%. This change also reflected in the proportion per 100,000 people which rose to 0.15, marking a 7.14% increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #51,352 | #49,087 | 4.41% |
| Count | 381 | 429 | 12.6% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.14 | 0.15 | 7.14% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Goodwater
With respect to ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that the majority of Goodwaters identify as White, although this percentage decreased from 66.67% in 2000 to 64.34% in 2010. The second most common ethnicity among Goodwaters is Black, with an increase from 28.35% to 29.37% over the same period. Those identifying as two or more races saw a significant increase of 55.24%, going from 2.10% to 3.26%. Meanwhile, those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native saw an 11.07% decrease. There were no reported Goodwaters identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or Hispanic in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 66.67% | 64.34% | -3.49% |
| Black | 28.35% | 29.37% | 3.6% |
| Two or More Races | 2.1% | 3.26% | 55.24% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 2.62% | 2.33% | -11.07% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |