Surname pronunciation help ...

[Taylor94]

I'm from around the Cambs/Suffolk border and know a few Gotobeds and have one line in my tree.
I've always pronounced it as 'Go-tuh-bed'

[Andrew Tarr]

... apparently it is a variant of: Godbert, Godbald, Godbold, Godber. How it came to be spelt that way I have no idea!

 
Some of them may be, but certain surname reference books suggest that it was a medieval nickname with amusing connotations, like others such as Bullock or Toplady.  No doubt when such allusions became less acceptable, more proper derivations were sought or dreamt up to save embarrassment.

[CarolA3]

I didn't know the name Bullock had amusing connotations.  Could you specify please?

Carol

[mckha489]

I didn't know the name Bullock had amusing connotations.  Could you specify please?

Carol

“As a name, it most likely evolved from a nickname for an exuberant young man”

https://www.houseofnames.com/bullock-family-crest

[Andrew Tarr]

I didn't know the name Bullock had amusing connotations.  Could you specify please?

Just try a different vowel after the B, Carol .... 

[CarolA3]

Oh, that.  There's also the less obvious one involving the LL.

I thought you meant there was something like a slang usage, on the lines of 'Buckley's chance' or 'his name was Mudd'.

Carol

[Maiden Stone]

I didn't know the name Bullock had amusing connotations.  Could you specify please?

Just try a different vowel after the B, Carol .... 

Inappropriate now as a bullock is a gelded bull.

[CarolA3]

I know that, MS

Still hoping for an interesting story to help bring the name alive

Carol