Goosey

This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and has two possible interpretations. Firstly, it may be of English locational origin from a place thus called in Berkshire, recorded as "Gosele" in the Saxon Chartularies (815), and as "Gosei" in the Domesday Book of 1086. The placename derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century "gos", goose, with "eg", an island; hence, "island frequented by geese". Locational names were originally given as a means of identification to those who left their village or place of origin to settle elsewhere. Walter de Gosey is listed in the Berkshire Book of Fees (1242). The surname may also be from a nickname deriving from the Olde English "gos", goose, with "eage", eye; hence "goose-eye". Peter Goseie is recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland (1199), and Henry Goseye is noted in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire (1327). The surname is also found as Goozee. Recordings of the name from London Church Registers include; John Goosey, who married Avelen Byrcotte on December 1st 1605 at St. Giles, Cripplegate; Richard Goosey, who married Jane Forers on February 8th 1623 at St. Mary Magdalene, Old Fish Street; and Nathaneal Goosey who married Anne Kiney on June 10th 1649 at St. Mary Aldermary. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Gosege, which was dated 1167, in the "Pipe Rolls of Devonshire", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.