Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Godenesburg, Godesburg 1086 DB

• Godeburgh 1269 Ch

• Godel(l)esbur(g), Godel(l)esburc 12 1170,1208 P l.12 Font 1250 Percy

• Godelsburg' 1150–60 Bodl97 1166–74 YChvi c.1200 YDx

• Godlesburch, Godlesburg 13 Ch 1310 YDiv 1204–8 FF 1234

• Goldesburg(h), Goldesburc 1154–86 RegAlbi,37d 1158–81 YChvi 1166 P 1172 YCh511 1203 Cur Hy3 BM 1543 NCyWills

• Goldeburg(h) e.13 RegAlbii,22d 1269 Ch 1289 Ebor

• Gould(e)sbrough(e) 1564 PRAll 1587 KnaresWill 1641 Rates

Etymology

'Godel's fortification', v. burh . The first el. appears to be an OE  pers.n. Godel which is not recorded, but which would be a normal diminutive in -el (IPN 171) of OE  Goda (Redin 49) and paralleled by OG  Godila . On the DB spellings cf. IPN 107; the later Goldes - is a metathesised form and perhaps analogically associated with the common word gold .