Godin
A surname usually linked to the old personal name Godwin, though some bearers may also come from French forms or related medieval variants.
The #8,934 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 84,242 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The name is generally treated as a shortened or altered form of the old Germanic personal name Godwin, meaning “God’s friend” or “friend of God.” Historical surname writers also note French influence on forms like Godin, and some medieval records show it alongside other Goodwin/Godwin spellings. In that sense, Godin can reflect either an English patronymic development or a French-shaped variant of the same underlying name.
History
19th-century surname scholars noted Godin in English medieval records and linked it with Goodwin/Godwin forms. The name also appears in French contexts, where diminutive or regional spellings could produce forms such as Godinot. In modern usage, Godin is found especially as a French surname, though it also occurs in English-speaking countries.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Old surname dictionaries sometimes list Godin right alongside Goodwin as a historical spelling variant, showing how fluid medieval surname forms could be.
From the historical record
“Baud win. This was gradually toned down Co Baudin ; v. Boden and Godin. dbyGoogle”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instancesNotable people named Godin
- Diego Godín (b. 1986)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.