Godalming was formed in 1967 by Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks while they were pupils at Charterhouse School. Actor Sam Worthington was born in Godalming in 1976, before moving to Australia at a young age. Billy Dainty a British comedian, dancer, physical comedian and pantomime and television star lived in Godalming. He died on November 19, 1986, aged 59, of prostate cancer at his home, Cobblers, in Godalming. Significant people currently living in the town include the actress Rachel Hurd-Wood, Great Britain field hockey player Dan Fox, Scottish international footballer John Hansen, brother of football pundit Alan Hansen, mathematics author Matt
Godalming Hundred recreate a local government unit based on the old hundred borders. The Hundred of Godalming was formed sometime after 825 when Wessex annexed the "south eastern provinces" of Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Essex. Godalming takes its name from the Old English "Godhelm Ingas" meaning "the clan of Godhelm". It is supposed that Godhelm was a Saxon chieftain who first colonised this dry land, bordered by swamps and a steep valley as he and his folk moved up the valley of the River Wey. Archæological evidence indicates that the Iron Age hill fort at Hascombe had been refortified by the Romano-Britons