The English surname of GOSNALL may, some have concluded, be a derivative from the surname of GOSNELL, others hold the view that it’s source may be the surname name GOSNOLD as yet this a matter for conjecture and has not at this time received much of my attention.

One commercial research source however, suggests that the name of Gosnell was of two probable origins.

In the first case they believe it is likely to stem from a toponymic base or put another way from the name of the place where the first bearer of the name lived or owned a piece of land. These researchers are of the view that the surname Gosnell is a fairly modern variation of the much older surname Gosnold. Both these names originating they suggest from “Gosenwold” the name of a former town no longer in existence.

This former township they claim took its name from the old English words “Gos” meaning “goose” and “wold” meaning “plain”. Thus having the meaning “the plain where geese are numerous”

The second view is that the name Gosnell may refer to a geographical or man made feature from where the original bearer of the name came or may have owned land. In this case the surname is claimed to originate from “Gossa” which is the name of a town located in the Shetland Isles, off Scotland and “Nell” which signifies “corner”. Hence it is held the bearer of the surname Gosnell was someone whose house or properties were located at the corner of the town of Gossa.

My recent browsing in the index’s held by the Society of Genealogists and IGI database of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints all point towards the county of Suffolk as being the likely geographical origin of the present day GOSNALL family. If true it could give some credence to the surname having a link with the above toponymic suggestion of a plain where geese were abundant.

There are several references to a Henry Gosnall and Mary Gosnall, who are believed to have come from Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk as being among some seven hundred passengers that formed what has become known as ‘the Great Emigration’ of 1630. They sailed in one of the eleven vessels of the Winthrop Fleet. The points of departure being Yarmouth, on the Isle of Wight between the voyages are reported to have commenced on the 8th. of April 1630 and during the month of May, arriving in Salem, United States of America in June and July.

Early American references also show the family name appearing in early records of New England, USA. with at least one household surviving to this present day.

There are records, I am told, of a GOSNALL family who spelt their name Gosnolde who had land in the parish of Ipswich & Otley, in the county of Suffolk. A number of other references show evidence of a GOSNALL family residing at Capel St. Mary and Monks Eleigh in the county of Suffolk between 1640 and 1800.

Another reference at the Society of Genealogists shows a link with the East End of London but as at this current date I have still to confirm such a London root.

My most recent discovery, in the 1881 British Census database produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, appears to confirm that told to me by my mother, that my father was born at Pennyfields, Poplar, Middlesex. I have yet to confirm this information with the original source. The reference found shows the surname spelt wrongly I believe as Gomall dwelling at 49 Pennyfields Poplar all the other family given names and dates of birth accord to facts currently known.

Research Notes 2000

Albert Wm. Gosnall