| ![Show Contents]() Jordaan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Jordaan name comes from the Gaelic Mac Siúrtáin. It was adopted by one a Connacht family who came to Ireland with the Norman invasion of 1172. Ultimately, Jordaan is derived from the name of the river Jordan, "Yarden" in Hebrew. The name first became popular in Europe as a personal name during the Crusades when it was a common practice for Crusaders to bring back vials containing the waters of this river to use in the baptism of their children. Early Origins of the Jordaan familyThe surname Jordaan was first found in Normandy where the name there was recorded as Jordanus as in the listing of Richard, Rovert and William Jordanus in 1189. 1 An earlier branch of the family came to Ireland with the "English invaders" in 1168 and at that time were known as De Exeter because they came from Exonia or Exeter in England. They accompanied Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, in his invasion of Ireland, and acquired lands from King John the English King. In order to assume Irish patronymics, the name was changed to MacJordan after Jordan De Courcy (Jordan Teutonicus) who died in 1197. As to underline this origin, the learned Edward MacLysaght, noted "Mac Siurtáin A Gaelic patronymic adopted by the d'Exeter family-one of those which acquired estates in Connacht after the Anglo-Norman invasion; it was later called MacJordan's country." 2 Another Chief Herald of Ireland, O'Hart quotes: "The De Exonias or De Exeters submitted to be called MacJordans, from one Jordan De Exonia, who was the first founder of the family." The family rose to become Lords of Athleathan, in the Barony of Gallen, and County of Mayo. 3 Early History of the Jordaan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jordaan research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1641 and 1652 are included under the topic Early Jordaan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Jordaan Spelling VariationsMedieval scribes and church officials spelt names simply the way they sounded, which explains the various name spelling variations of the name Jordaan that were encountered when researching that surname. The many spelling variations included: Jordan, Jordane, Jordain, Jordaine, Jourdan, Jourdane, Jorden, Jurden, Jurdon, MacShurtan, MacJordan, MacShurton, MacShurdane, MacShurtaine,McShurtan, McJordan, McShurton, McShurdane and many more. Early Notables of the Jordaan familyMore information is included under the topic Early Jordaan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Jordaan RankingIn South Africa, the name Jordaan is the 179th most popular surname with an estimated 35,932 people with that name. 4
 Jordaan migration to the United States | + |
A great number of Irish families left their homeland in the late 18th century and throughout the 19th century, migrating to such far away lands as Australia and North America. The early settlers left after much planning and deliberation. They were generally well off but they desired a tract of land that they could farm solely for themselves. The great mass of immigrants to arrive on North American shores in the 1840s differed greatly from their predecessors because many of them were utterly destitute, selling all they had to gain a passage on a ship or having their way paid by a philanthropic society. These Irish people were trying to escape the aftermath of the Great Potato Famine: poverty, starvation, disease, and, for many, ultimately death. Those that arrived on North American shores were not warmly welcomed by the established population, but they were vital to the rapid development of the industry, agriculture, and infrastructure of the infant nations of the United States and what would become Canada. Early passenger and immigration lists reveal many Irish settlers bearing the name Jordaan:
Jordaan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Dirk J. Jordaan, aged 17, who arrived in New York in 1903 aboard the ship "Noordam" from Rotterdam, Netherlands 5
- Johaanes M. Jordaan, aged 21, who arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Ryndam" from Rotterdam, Netherlands 5
- Jacobus J. Jordaan, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States, in 1923
| Contemporary Notables of the name Jordaan (post 1700) | + |
- Theuns Jordaan (1971-2021), South African singer-songwriter, born on a Karoo farm near Venterstad in the Eastern Cape
- Hendrik Johannes "Henno" Jordaan (b. 1988), South African cricketer
- Andrew Jordaan, South African cricketer
- Jean Jordaan, South African radio personality
- Johnny Jordaan (1924-1989), pseudonym for Johannes Hendricus van Musscher, a Dutch folk singer
- Daniel Alexander "Danny" Jordaan (b. 1951), South African sports administrator
- Paul Jordaan (b. 1992), South African rugby union footballer
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Percussa Resurgo
Motto Translation: Struck down, I rise again
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
- O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
- "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
- Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
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Jordaan migration to the United States 
Ireland
England
