Goethals is a Dutch surname originating in Flanders. It seems to be derived from Goedaels, meaning "good ale", and, equivalent to the English and German surnames Goodale and Gutbier, would have referred to a brewer. People with the surname include: Angela Goethals (born 1977), American actress Auguste Goethals (1812–1888), Belgian lieutenant general and minister of war Christian Goethals (1928–2003), Belgian racing driver Félix Goethals (1891–1962), French road bicycle racer Félix Victor Goethals (1798–1872), Belgian historian, librarian and genealogist George Washington Goethals (1858–1928), United States Army officer and civil engineer Guy Goethals (born 1952), Belgian football referee Henry Goethals (c.1217–1293), Flemish scholastic philosopher Lucien Goethals (1931–2006), Belgian composer Paul Goethals (1832–1901), Belgian Jesuit priest, first Catholic archbishop of Calcutta. Pieter Goethals (1826–1860), Flemish victim of judicial error, beheaded for a murder he did not commit Raymond Goethals (1921–2004), Belgian football coach Robert Goethals (1922–2011), Belgian football coach Thomás Goethals (born 1983), Dutch/Mexican DJ Named after George Washington Goethals Goethals Bridge in New York City Goethals Medal, awarded by the Society of American Military Engineers USS General G. W. Goethals (ID-1443) and USNS George W. Goethals (T-AP-182), US Navy ships Dredge Goethals US Army ocean-going hopper dredger Named after Paul Goethals Goethals Memorial School, administered by the Congregation of Christian Brothers in India References Dutch-language surnames Surnames of Belgian origin