In parishes of St. Swithin in Walbrook Ward, All Hallows ad fenum, the Great, in Dowgate Ward, and St. Laurence Pountney in Candlewick Ward.
Mentioned in several Wills in the 14th century : "Gofairelane," 1313 (Ct. H.W. I. 239). "Gofayrlane," 1318 (ib. 280). "Govayrlane," 1339 (ib. 435). "Goveres lane," 1349 (ib. 544). "G(l)over lane," 1385 (Cal. P.R. Rich. II. 1381-5, p. 562). "Gofair lane," 26 H. VI. 1448 (Cal. P.R. H. VI. 1446-52, p. 173). "Goveres lane," 1456 (ib. 1452-61, p. 284).
"Goefair alias Cross Lane," mentioned in indenture of mortgage, 1706, cited in Wilson's history of St. Laurence Pountney, p. 213.
There was an Elias Gofaire who possessed rents in the parish of S. Swithin in "Candeluik strate" in 1309-10 (Ct. H.W. I. 209), so that the street was probably named originally after this family.