De Gowe

Recorded in a number of forms, this is a French surname of uncertain etymology. Probably in the British Isles of 17th century Huguenot origin, the spellings are believed to include Degoix, Degoy, De Goy, De Goey, De Goe, De Gouy, De Gowe, and possibly De Gogay, Degue and Degne. It is said that the origin is locational from places called "Gouy" found in the departements of Aisne, Oise, Somme and Pas de Calais. "Gouy" is an ancient word of the pre 7th century believed to translate as fiefdom or settlement, and as such referring to a place held by a local lord. Locational surnames wherever found, are by their nature "from" names. That is to say names given either to the lord of the manor, or to former inhabitants who moved to some other place and were best identified by the name of their original homestead. Spelling being at best erratic, and local dialects more akin to another language, often lead to a development of a wide range of spellings. In this case we have examples of the surname spellings taken at random from surviving church registers both the city of London, and of France. In the latter case most were destroyed in the famous Revolution of 1792, making etymological research even more difficult. These recordings include Jean Degogay at the French Church, Threadneedle Street, in the city of London, on April 24th 1709, Antony Degoe at the church of St Dunstans in the East, Stepney, on June 21st 1723, Etienne Degue at Aigremont, Haute-Marne, on September 8th 1748, Peter de Goye at St Andrews Holborn, on April 27th 1771, and Francois de Goue, at St Germain-en-Laye, Seine et Oise, on September 18th 1777.