Coats of Arms for Golding and Goulding but not for Gaulding

There are quite a few webpages on the internet that claim to define the derivation of English surnames, but as there is no way to verify the validity of the information, it should not be taken as fact. 

Surnames in England became prevalent following the Norman Conquest in 1066. As the population increased, individuals required unique identifiers, leading to names incorporating descriptions such as Thomas, son of John or Richard the Whitehead. Initially, surnames were flexible and could change over time, particularly if an individual changed professions. The establishment of parish registers in 1538 contributed to the formation of hereditary surnames. Today, English surnames originate from various sources, including occupations (Smith, Taylor, Cook), locations (Hill, York, London), and personal characteristics (Swift, Armstrong, Short) (History of Surnames, n.d.).

Surnames have evolved significantly over the centuries. ("The evolution of surnames in different cultures", n.d.) Initially, they were fluid and descriptive, often varying based on an individual's location, occupation, or physical traits. For instance, someone might be known as John the Baker in one area but referred to as John of Oxford elsewhere. With the increasing structure of society, surnames began to stabilize and be passed down through generations, especially after the introduction of parish registers in England in 1538. The requirements for tax records, land ownership, and identity verification reinforced the establishment of hereditary surnames.

In contemporary times, surnames continue to change and adapt due to factors such as migration, marriage customs, or personal preferences. Some individuals choose to hyphenate their surnames, while others alter or reclaim surnames for cultural or personal reasons.

Gaulding, Gaulden and Gauldin

So where did the name Gaulding and any of it’s variations come from, according to a couple of these site?  The following is copied from a website called iGENEA (Surname Gaulding, n.d.)

“Gaulding: What does the surname Gaulding mean?

The surname Gaulding is believed to have originated from England. It is likely derived from the given name "Goldwine" or "Golding," which are old English names. "Goldwine" translates literally to "gold friend," with 'gold' signifying something precious or valuable, and 'wine' taken from the Old English 'wine' meaning friend. Surnames that were based on old English personal names were typically formed by adding a diminutive suffix to the original name, in this case, "-ing." Hence, "Golding" or "Gaulding" interprets as "the kin of Goldwine." The name could also possibly arise from the term "golden," referring to someone with golden or blonde hair. It's essential to note that the accurate origin of a surname can be uncertain as it can evolve significantly over centuries, with variations in spelling and form.

Gaulding: Where does the name Gaulding come from?

The surname Gaulding is of English origin, believed to have derived from old English Galfridus or alternatively, from the Norse name 'Gaufrid' which was brought to England by the Vikings. Literally, it translates to "territorial ruler" or "ruler of the domain".

In the Middle Ages, names were often given based on personal characteristics or geographical locations. It's also possible that Gaulding is a topographical surname, pertaining to individuals who resided near a gold clearing or gold-digging area.

Its variants can include Gaulden, Goulding, and Galding among others. Rare today, it can be found to some extent in the United States, especially in the southern regions due to historical migration patterns. However, even there, it appears less frequently compared to other surnames. It is less common in its country of origin, England. The surname Gaulding remained fairly secluded geographically, resulting in its scarcity. Often those carrying the Gaulding surname can trace their ancestry back to English roots. A famous bearer of this surname is American professional stock car racing driver Gray Gaulding.

Variations of the surname Gaulding

Gaulding is an English surname that originated from the Old French personal name "Gauld." Variations of this surname include Gaulden, Gauldin, and Golding. Although slightly altered, these names still carry the same original meaning.

The spelling can differ based on the country and region, as well as transformations over time due to linguistic changes. The most common variations include Golding and Goulding, which are more frequent in English-speaking regions.

Additionally, the "g" at the end of Gaulding can sometimes be replaced with a "k" to form Gauldink. There is also a variation that omits the "g" at the end completely, forming Gauldin. (Note: I've certainly never heard of this..)

Sometimes, the "a" in Gaulding might be replaced by an "o" to form Goulding. The "u" in Gaulding can also occasionally be replaced by an "o," which results in "Golding."

Some families may also have used the "de" prefix, resulting in the De Gaulding or De Gaulden surnames. These variants are likely to be found in France and French-speaking countries.

In summary, while Gaulding is the original form of the name, variations like Gaulden, Gauldin, Golding, Gauldink, Goulding, and De Gaulding have also been used throughout history.

Famous people with the name Gaulding

Gray Gaulding: He is an American professional stock car racing driver. Gaulding competed in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Herbert Gaulding: An English cricketer who played for Northamptonshire between 1924 and 1926. These are probably the most renowned individuals with the surname Gaulding. The name is not common, hence there are not many famous people with the name Gaulding. It is important to note that popularity of a surname can vary greatly depending on cultural, geographical, and historical factors.”

Another site is Name Discoveries and it gives the following information about the surnames Gaulding, Gaulden and Gauldin: (Surname Gauldin, n.d.)

Gaulden - The surname Gaulden is of English origin and is derived from the Old English personal name "Galdwine," which means "ruler with a spear." It is a patronymic surname, indicating that it was originally used to identify the descendants of a person named Galdwine. Over time, the name evolved and eventually became Gaulden. Today, individuals with the surname Gaulden can be found primarily in the United States.

Number of People with the name Gaulden: 930

Overall Popularity: Less than 0.01% (a rare surname)

Ranking: 26,261

Frequency per 100k people: 0.32

Gauldin - Same as Gaulden.

Number of People with the name Gauldin: 975

Overall Popularity: Less than 0.01% (a rare surname)

Ranking: 25,381

Frequency per 100k people: 0.33

Gaulding - The surname Gaulding is of English origin and is derived from the Old English personal name "Golding," which itself comes from the Old English word "gold" meaning "gold" and the suffix "-ing" indicating "descendant of." Therefore, the meaning of the surname Gaulding can be interpreted as "descendant of the person with golden hair or a golden complexion."

Number of People with the name Gaulding: 423

Overall Popularity: Less than 0.01% (a rare surname)

Ranking: 49,636

Frequency per 100k people: 0.14

Again, although interesting, there is no way to confirm the validity of any of this information, so it should not be taken as fact. 

A word about Family Crests and Arms

First of all, a Coat of Arms belongs to an individual and only sometimes is it passed down to their direct descendants.  Of all of the family units identified in Gaulding Origins, only the Golding Family of Essex, Cavendish and Poslingford and their kin have a Coat of Arms associated with their genealogy. (Golding History, Family Crest and Coats of Arms, n.d.)  According to Burke's Encyclopedia of Heraldry, the official description for Golding is" "Gules a chevron argent between three bezants." (Heraldic and Family Crests of Goldens, Goldings, Gouldings, n.d.).  The surname Golding and Goulding in multiple editions of Burke’s Peerage (Burke's Family Index for Golding, n.d.), but the name “Gaulding” or any derivative does not. 

The Goulding Family of Massachusetts is an entirely different family line than Golding and there may be evidence that it has a family crest associated with it.  The story is that a crest was stolen from the gravestone of one of the descendants of the family of Peter Goulding of Sudbury, Massachusetts and that it looked like the crest that is usually associated with the Goulding family of England.  It didn’t look like this picture (see below).

I had this image attached to George Goulding on my Gaulding Origins Tree on ancestry, but as it did not have the source connected to it as it was posted to someone else’s page, I don’t know where it came from. (Golding Arms on the tombstone of George Goulding, n.d.)

This image for Goulding is the same as the Golding arms, and I don’t think the two families are connected, so there may have been some confusion among the descendants of Roger Goulding.  Roger Goulding, a ship captain of Rhode Island was the supposed brother of Captain Peter Goulding.  

This is what the arms of the Goulding family is generally reported to have looked like:

This image is from the Visitation of Kent and it is related to Goulding of Sevington. (Visitation of Kent image, n.d.) 

As the Gaulden/Gaulding/Gauldin family of Virginia is related to neither branch from England, it really doesn’t matter what the Arms and Crest of Golding and Goulding looked like.  We are Americans, and Americans don’t adhere to such things, at least not since 1776 we don’t. 

You can basically type in any surname on a site that sells “Family Crests”, and something will come up. (Gaulding History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms, n.d.)  It certainly does not mean there is any validity of the information.  As far as I know, the Gaulding/Gaulden/Gauldin Family of Virginia has no connection to an authorized Coat of Arms. 

A shield by the way is not the same thing as a coat of arms.  Some families have adopted a shield as representation of their heritage, even if they don't have a formally granted coat of arms.  It can even be a decorative design that isn't officially recognized by heraldic tradition.  So, while a coat of arms is official, a shield may be an informal representation of a family's heritage.

Works Cited

"The evolution of surnames in different cultures". (n.d.). Retrieved from Surnam.es: https://surnam.es/blog/the-evolution-of-surnames-in-different-cultures

Burke's Family Index for Golding. (n.d.). Retrieved from Burke's Peerage Online: https://www.burkespeerage.com/search_results.php?bookResult=01

Gaulding History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms. (n.d.). Retrieved from House of Names: https://www.houseofnames.com/gaulding-family-crest

Golding Arms on the tombstone of George Goulding. (n.d.). Retrieved from Gaulding Origins on Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/120903483/person/372128467359/media/0f0bba63-3fbb-4887-b253-1f7da92ebf53?galleryindex=5&sort=-created

Golding History, Family Crest and Coats of Arms. (n.d.). Retrieved from House of Names: https://www.houseofnames.com/golding-family-crest

Heraldic and Family Crests of Goldens, Goldings, Gouldings. (n.d.). Retrieved from goldengenealogy.com: https://goldengenealogy.com/heraldic-and-family-crests-of-goldens-goldings-gouldings/

History of Surnames. (n.d.). Retrieved from Historic UK: https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Surnames/

Surname Gauldin. (n.d.). Retrieved from Name Discoveries: https://namediscoveries.com/surnames/gauldin

Surname Gaulding. (n.d.). Retrieved from iGENEA: https://www.igenea.com/en/surnames/g/gaulding

Visitation of Kent image. (n.d.). Retrieved from Ancestry.com: https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/120903483/media/1dbb55bb-9c19-4d83-aa5e-741155c00332?galleryindex=74&sort=-created