Godwin is an English-language surname with Anglo-Saxon origins. It means ''

God In monotheistic belief systems, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. In polytheistic belief systems, a god is "a spirit or being believed to have created, or for controlling some part of the un ...

's friend'' and is thus equivalent to

Theophilus Theophilus is a male given name with a range of alternative spellings. Its origin is the Greek word Θεόφιλος from θεός (''theós'', "God") and φιλία (''philía'', "love or affection") can be translated as "Love of God" or "Friend ...

, Jedediah, Amadeus and

Reuel Reuel or Raguel (; ), meaning "God shall pasture" or more specifically " El shall pasture" (as a shepherd does with his flock) is a Hebrew name associated with several biblical and religious figures. Biblical figures Biblical persons with this ...

. However, the word "Godwin" can also mean "helper of mankind"

Surname or only known name

House of Godwin

Ancestry of the Godwins Very little is known for certain of the ancestry of the Godwins, the family of the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, Harold Godwinson, Harold II. When King Edward the Confessor died in January 1066 his closest relative was his great-nephew, ...

Godwin, Earl of Wessex Godwin of Wessex (; died 15 April 1053) was an Anglo-Saxon nobleman who became one of the most powerful earls in England under the Danish king Cnut the Great (King of England from 1016 to 1035) and his successors. Cnut made Godwin the first ...

(died 1053), earl in England under the Danish king Cnut the Great **

Harold Godwinson Harold Godwinson ( – 14 October 1066), also called Harold II, was the last crowned Anglo-Saxon King of England. Harold reigned from 6 January 1066 until his death at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, the decisive battle of the Norman ...

*** Edmund, son of Harold Godwinson *** Godwin, son of Harold Godwinson *** Harold, son of Harold Godwinson *** Magnus, son of Harold Godwinson *** Ulf, son of Harold Godwinson **

Gyrth Godwinson Gyrth Godwinson (Old English: ''Gyrð Godƿinson''; 1032 – 14 October 1066) was the fourth son of Earl Godwin, and thus a younger brother of Harold Godwinson. He went with his eldest brother Sweyn into exile to Flanders in 1051, but unlike ...

Sweyn Godwinson Sweyn Godwinson () ( 1020 – 1052), also spelled Swein, was the eldest son of Earl Godwin of Wessex, and brother of Harold II of England. Early life In 1043 Sweyn was raised to an earldom which included Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Oxf ...

Tostig Godwinson Tostig Godwinson ( 102925 September 1066) was an Anglo-Saxon Earl of Northumbria and brother of King Harold Godwinson. After being exiled by his brother, Tostig supported the Norwegian king Harald Hardrada's invasion of England, and was killed ...

Leofwine Godwinson Leofwine Godwinson (c. 1035 – 14 October 1066) was a younger brother of King Harold Godwinson, the fifth son of Earl Godwin. When the Godwin family was exiled from England in 1051 he went with Harold to Ireland, where they were sheltered an ...

Wulfnoth Godwinson Wulfnoth Godwinson (1040-1094) was the youngest brother of King Harold II of England. The sixth son of Earl Godwin of Wessex, Wulfnoth was given as a hostage in childhood, and, as a result of war and political intrigue, was subsequently held in c ...

Politics and governance

Abraham Godwin Abraham Godwin (July 16, 1763 – October 5, 1835) was a representative in the New Jersey General Assembly, former fife major in the American Revolutionary War, and brigadier general during the War of 1812. Personal life Abraham Godwin was b ...

(1763–1835), New Jersey General Assembly 1802–1806, Elector for Andrew Jackson 1828 * Abraham Godwin Jr. (1791–1849), New Jersey General Assembly 1821–1832, took vote to D.C. for Presidential Election 1840 * Hannibal Lafayette Godwin (1873–1929), North Carolina Congressman *

Helen Godwin Helen Godwin is a British Labour Party (UK), Labour Party politician who has served as the Mayor of the West of England since 2025. Early life and education Helen Godwin grew up in Begbrook, near Stapleton, Bristol, in what she states was a wo ...

, British politician *

Mary Wollstonecraft Mary Wollstonecraft ( , ; 27 April 175910 September 1797) was an English writer and philosopher best known for her advocacy of women's rights. Until the late 20th century, Wollstonecraft's life, which encompassed several unconventional ...

, later Mary Godwin (1759–1797), English author of ''A Vindication of the Rights of Woman'' * Mills E. Godwin Jr. (1914–1999), Governor of Virginia * Richard Godwin (1922–2005), First Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics *

William Godwin William Godwin (3 March 1756 – 7 April 1836) was an English journalist, political philosopher and novelist. He is considered one of the first exponents of utilitarianism and the first modern proponent of anarchism. Godwin is most famous fo ...

(1756–1836), English political philosopher

Religion

Godwin of Stavelot Saint Godwin of Stavelot was a Benedictine abbot Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the head of an independent monastery for men in various Western Christian traditions. The name is derived from ''abba'', the Aramaic form of the Hebr ...

, English saint *

Francis Godwin Francis Godwin (1562–1633) was an English historian, science fiction author and priest, who was Bishop of Llandaff and of Hereford. Life He was the son of Thomas Godwin, Bishop of Bath and Wells, born at Hannington, Northamptonshire. He wa ...

(1562–1633), English bishop and historian *

Godwin (bishop) Godwin (or Godwine; died after 1017) was a medieval Bishop of Lichfield The Bishop of Lichfield is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Lichfield in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers 4,516 km2 (1,744 sq. mi.) ...

, bishop of Lichfield – 1017 *

Jeff Godwin Jeffrey Godwin is a Christian fundamentalist preacher and author from Bloomington, Indiana, USA. He is best known for his numerous books critical of both secular and Christian rock music. Godwin is a former drug addict and rock musician. He claims ...

, American fundamentalist, former rock musician *

Thomas Godwin (bishop) Thomas Godwin (1517 – 19 November 1590) was an English bishop, who presided over the Diocese of Bath and Wells. Life Thomas Godwin was both born and died in Wokingham in Berkshire. For tuition he entered the household of Richard Layton, the ...

(1517–1590), bishop of Bath and Wells

Arts and entertainment

Catherine Grace Godwin Catherine Grace Godwin (25 December 1798 – 1845) was a Scottish novelist, amateur painter and poet. Biography Catherine Grace Garnett was born in Glasgow on 25 December 1798. Her mother, Catherine Grace Cleveland, died in childbirth. Her fath ...

(1798–1845), Scottish poet *

Edward William Godwin Edward William Godwin (26 May 1833 – 6 October 1886) was a progressive English architect-designer, who began his career working in the strongly polychromatic "John Ruskin, Ruskinian Gothic" style of mid-Victorian Britain, inspired by ''Th ...

(1833–1886), English architect * Elizabeth Ayton Godwin (1817–1889), English hymnwriter, religious poet *

Fay Godwin Fay Godwin (17 February 1931 – 27 May 2005) was a British photographer known for her black-and-white landscapes of the British countryside and coast. Career Godwin was introduced to the London literary scene.Frank Godwin (1889–1959), American illustrator, creator of ''Connie'' comic strip * Frank Godwin (film producer) (1917–2012), English film producer * Gail Godwin (born 1937), American novelist and short story writer * George Stanley Godwin (1889–1974), English author * Jack Godwin (1904–1973), English conjurer and magician *

, American fundamentalist, former rock musician *

Joscelyn Godwin Joscelyn Godwin (born 16 January 1945 at Kelmscott, Oxfordshire, England) is a composer, musicologist, and translator, known for his work on ancient music, paganism, and music in the occult. Biography He was educated as a chorister at Chri ...

(born 1945), English musicologist and translator * Mary Godwin (artist) (1887–1960), British artist *

Mary Shelley Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley ( , ; ; 30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851) was an English novelist who wrote the Gothic novel ''Frankenstein, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' (1818), which is considered an History of science fiction# ...

(née Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin; 1797–1851), English author of ''Frankenstein'' * Parke Godwin (1929–2013), American writer * Parke Godwin (journalist) (1816–1904), American journalist * Paul Godwin (1902–1982), Polish violinist and bandleader * Peter Godwin (born 1957), Zimbabwean author and journalist *

Peter Godwin (singer) Peter Godwin is an English new wave musician. He was a member of the band Metro, as well as a solo artist and songwriter. The Metro song " Criminal World", co-written by Godwin, was banned by the BBC on its initial release in 1977 due to bi ...

, English new wave musician * Robert Godwin (born 1958), British author *

Ted Godwin Edward W. (Ted) Godwin, L.L. D (August 13, 1933 – January 3, 2013) was the youngest member of the Regina Five, a group of five artists ( Ken Lochhead, Art McKay, Ron Bloore and Douglas Morton) all based in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1961 wh ...

(1933–2013), Canadian artist * Tom Godwin (1915–1980), American science fiction author

Science

* George Godwin (1813–1888), British architect, town planner and journalist *

Harry Godwin Sir Harry Godwin, FRS (9 May 1901 – 12 August 1985) was a prominent English botanist Botany, also called plant science, is the branch of natural science and biology studying plants, especially Plant anatomy, their anatomy, Plant taxon ...

(1901–1985), English botanist *

Henry Haversham Godwin-Austen Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Haversham Godwin-Austen Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS Zoological Society of London, FZS Royal Geographical Society, FRGS British Ornithologists' Union, MBOU (6 July 1834 – 2 December 1923), known until 1854 as Henry ...

(1834–1923), English geologist and ornithologist * Linda M. Godwin (born 1952), American astronaut * Robert Alfred Cloynes Godwin-Austen (1808–1884), English geologist

Sport

* Billy Godwin (born 1964), American college baseball coach * Chris Godwin (born 1996), American football player * Jack Godwin (born 1904), British Olympic rower * John Godwin (baseball) (1877–1956), American baseball player * Neville Godwin (born 1975), South African tennis player * Terry Godwin (born 1996), American football player * Tommy Godwin (footballer) (1927–1996), Irish footballer * Tommy Godwin (cyclist, born 1912) (1912–1975), English cyclist and world record holder for miles covered in a year * Tommy Godwin (cyclist, born 1920) (1920–2012), British track cyclist active during the 1940s and 1950s * Verdi Godwin (1926–2013), English footballer * Wayne Godwin (born 1982), English rugby player

Military

* Captain Abraham Godwin (1724–1777), Captain of Marines on the USS ''Lady Washington'' in the American Revolutionary War * Bill Godwin, Rhodesian brigadier * Elizabeth Godwin, British army captain and first female officer of The Life Guards * James Godwin, American admiral * James Gowing Godwin (1923–1995), New Zealand military aviator *

John Godwin (Royal Navy officer) Temporary Lieutenant John Godwin, RNVR (13 December 1919 – 2 February 1945) was a British naval officer. Born and brought up in Argentina, he took part in a raid named Operation Checkmate on Axis shipping near Haugesund, north of Stavanger, N ...

(1919–1945), British Naval Reserve officer during World War II

Other people

Becky Godwin Mills Edwin Godwin Jr. (November 19, 1914January 30, 1999) was an American politician who was the List of governors of Virginia, 60th and 62nd governor of Virginia for two non-consecutive terms, from 1966 to 1970 and from 1974 to 1978. Godwin wa ...

(1954–1968), daughter of Virginia Governor Godwin, killed by lightning * Glen Stewart Godwin (born 1958), American murderer, former FBI Ten Most Wanted fugitive *

Mike Godwin Michael Wayne Godwin (born October 26, 1956) is an American attorney and author. He was the first staff counsel of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and he created the Internet adage Godwin's law and the notion of an Internet meme. From ...

(born 1956), American lawyer, created Godwin's law of Internet discussions (mentioning Hitler)

Given name

* Godwin Abbe (1949–2024), Nigerian politician * Godwin Akwaji (died 2020), Nigerian politician * Godwin Emefiele, Nigerian banker * Godwin Igwebuike (born 1994), American football player * Godwin Olofua, Nigerian badminton player * Godwin Samararatne, Sri Lankan teacher

Fictional characters

* Neil Godwin, from ''The Office''

Places

* Godwin, North Carolina *

Godwin-Austen Glacier The Godwin-Austen Glacier is a glacier in the Karakoram range and is close to K2, the second highest mountain peak in the world, situated in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. Its confluence with the Baltoro Glacier is called Concordia (Karako ...

Other uses

* '' General Godwin'', convict ship * "Godwin" (song), a song by Nigerian artiste Korede Bello * Godwin's law on comparison with Nazis, named after American lawyer Mike Godwin * Mills E. Godwin High School