Golden-coloured goats have been known in Guernsey for some two hundred years;[5]: 381  the first documented reference is in a guide book published in 1826.

[5]: 381 Much of the development of the breed is attributed to Miriam Milbourne, who started a herd at L'Ancresse in 1937 and was able to maintain it through the German occupation of the Channel Islands during the Second World War.

[2][8] In 2020 the Golden Guernsey was listed as "minority" on the goat watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

[3] On 16 July 2024, the breed was granted a Royal title by King Charles III, becoming formally known as the 'Royal Golden Guernsey Goat'.

[9] As its name suggests, the goat is golden in colour, with hues ranging from pale blond to deep bronze.