Gotobed

[Redroger]

Under 20 miles from my relative at Botisham, probably connected in view of the scarcity of the surname.

[lyndylou1954]

I was a Gotobed before I married..A few of our family actually had the name changed by deed poll as it was so disliked, I come from March in Cambridgeshire so not far away...looking back I think it a bit of a shame as it is an unusual name, at the time I was overjoyed as it lead to a lot of bullying etc at school.

[Brie]

Hi,

From Lower's "Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom" pub. 1860

"GOTOBED. O. Germ. Gott-bet, 'Pray to God.' Talbot's Engl. Etymol. Robert Gotobedde, Winchelsae, 20 Edw. I. Juliana Gotobedde, ibid. (Cooper). Notwithstanding Mr Talbot's conjecture, we may as well, perhaps, take this name au pied de la lettre, and assume it was given as a sobriquet to people more than ordinarily attached to their couch. A similar collocation of words forming a surname occurs in the H.R., viz.: Serlo Go-to-kirke, which was borne by one of the cottars of the hundred of Trippelowe, co. Cambridge, temp. Edw. I.-most probably in allusion to his constant attention to his public devotions."

H.R. refers to Rotuli Hundredorum - the Hundred Rolls (1273) which are the result of Edward I making inquiries about the state of his lands, revenues of the crown etc.

I think the Talbot will be referring to "English Etymologies" by W.H.F. Talbot.

No idea to what Cooper refers.

Strikes me that if you agree with Mr Lower's theory a modern equivalent would be Mr/Ms Couchpotato   

Brie

[Redroger]

When I lived in the Doncaster area I encountered another three word derived name "Godbehere". On the face of it self explanatory, unless there is more to it than its face value.

[AndrewMartin]

there was a Gotobed who married into my Gilbert family. Not an ancestor, but I think he was from Littleport area.

[Redroger]

Right area, thanks Andrew

[LizzieW]

Hi Roger

There's a Gotobed family just round the corner from where I live.  I don't know them, but the lady in question writes a Nature page in our monthlyl village magazine.

Lizzie

[Redroger]

Thanks Lizzie, An intriguing surname. What's the name of the magazine please?

[golfer71]

Several years ago an article was published in Ripley's "Believe it or not" that told of a barrister firm of Gotobed & Cuddle.

My g.grandmother was a Gotobed but we're unable "to connect the dots" to the lawyer!
golfer71