Welcome
What’s in a name --- origins & meaning of
the surname Goyetche
Most Basque surnames are readily identifiable
because they follow a small number of set patterns.
The vast majority are not derived from an ancestor
but rather from the family's etxea, the historically all
important Basque family home.
This name Goyetche means the house on the hill,
mountain top, or pinnacle. Being a superlative, it
indicates the highest point around. The word Goi or
Goy means the one on top or the highest one.
Exte is house. Goy "high place" + etxe or etche
"house".
Other variations of this surname include
Goyenetche, Goienetche and Goienetxe. It is found
in Arizkun, Aspilkueta, Iruieta, Ordoki, and in the
valley of Baztan. Some branches went to Elizondo,
Tarazona (Zaragoza), Velez-Málaga, and Peru. In
Larabezua, Ustaritz, and Argentina it is also known
as Gojeneche.
The benefits of an uncommon name
The question arises from time to time. Are we all related? In North America, the
short and definitive answer is --- yes. Research indicates that, with only a few
exceptions, we are descendants of Jean Goyetche, a Basque fisherman born in 1763
in the Bayonne region of France who arrived sometime before 1793 and settled in
Cape Auget, NS. We are all cousins -- maybe 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th -- but cousins
nonetheless.
The few exceptions are those who came here more recently from South America,
France or Nouvelle Caledonie (New Caledonia) in the South Pacific. It is likely they
are related as well. If we were able to trace Jean Goyetche’s family prior to Nova
Scotia, we might find he was related to Dominique who went to New Caledonia,
those that went to South America and, of course, those who remained in France.
How do you pronounce Goyetche?
The pronunciation and spelling of the name tends to vary slightly among different
branches of the family. In the Bayonne region of France, where our ancestors
originated, the name is pronounced as a three-syllable word -- Goy (as in boy) etch
(like sketch) ay (as in hay). No doubt there is Spanish influence in that
pronunciation. On Isle Madame in Nova Scotia, with the French Acadian influence, it
is pronounced Goy (like boy) eshe (as in mesh) with emphasis on the second
syllable. In the Halifax region of Nova Scotia, it’s pronounced Guy – ash with
emphasis on the first syllable.
Some branches of the family have changed the spelling over the years. In Quebec,
one branch dropped the “t” to create Goyeche. In Massachusetts, another branch
dropped the “e” at the end to create Goyetch. And yet another branch changed the
name to Guyette.
Cape Breton to Texas - Marie’s story
In the late 19th century, a young girl named Marie
Goyetche and her family from Cape Breton joined a
great out-migration of more than 250,000 Maritimers,
almost 30 percent of the population of the region at
the time, destined for the “Boston States”.
Among the Goyetche’s who migrated to the Boston
area was Marie’s family -- father Louis (Joyce)
Goyetche (1846 – 1941), his wife Marie and their
children, including Marie Marthe. They left Cape Auget,
Nova Scotia at the turn of the century for Newton,
Massachusetts.
Within a few years her journey took her even further.
Marie and her new husband booked passage on a ship
bound for Galveston, Texas where they began a new
life.
To read more about Marie’s story, as told by her
granddaughter Wanda Cuniff, see Cape Breton To
Texas – Marie’s Story.
At A Glance
FAMILY NEWS
Our Family News page features births,
marriages, deaths and achievements
(both big & small) by Goyetche family
members.
Recent additions include news of the
death of Henry Goyetche of Everett, MA;
Francis Gail Goyetche of Massey, ON;
Mary Eleanor Goyetche of Louisdale, NS;
Robert (Bob) Goyetche of Montreal, QC
and Ernest E. Goyetche Jr. of Ridgecrest,
CA.
Among the new additions to the family is
Alexei Nicolas Bartkow of Bathurst, NB, a
3rd grandson for Glenda (Goyetche)
Bartkow of Halifax, NS.
PHOTO GALLERIES
The Photo Gallery pages include a variety
of vintage and more recent photos
contributed by family members over many
years.
Recent additions include David & Sylvia
Goyetche of Deux-Montagnes, QC with
Georges Goyetche of Bayonne, France;
Chris & Emma Goyetche of Cochrane, AB;
Jeffrey Arthur & Emilie Goyetche of
Arichat, NS; Andy, Madison & Travis
Goyetche of Saugus, MA; Henry Goyetche
of Everett, MA & daughter Pam
(Goyetche) Fialli; Jack & Kaitlyn Goyetch
of Canton, MA; Bob, Cathy & Simon
Goyetche of Montreal, QC; and Emma &
Sam Goyetche of Cochrane, AB.
GENEALOGY
Our Genealogy pages include information
on more than 1,950 family members and
600 family groups spanning nine
generations beginning in 1763.
Recent additions include descendants of
Thomas Alcide (Goyetche) Guyette.
HISTORICAL
The Historical pages feature a number of
articles that detail the origins and history
of the Basques and the Goyetche family.
They include articles about notable family
members such as Dominique Goyetche of
Nouvelle Caledonie in the South Pacific;
the Bishop of Charlottetown, Rev. Joseph
Vernon Fougere; Maria Goyetche of Petit
de Grat, NS; and Marie (Goyetche) Pond
of Galveston, TX.
In addition, you may view Steve
Goyeche’s Journals describing his travels
to the Basque region of southern France
in search of traces of our ancestor Jean
Goyetche.
