Show ContentsJordan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Jordan Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Jordan

What does the name Jordan mean?

The history of the Jordan family goes back to the Medieval landscape of northwestern France, to a region known as Brittany. It is derived from the family living in Brittany.

Early Origins of the Jordan family

The surname Jordan was first found in Brittany, where the family held a family seat since ancient times.

Early History of the Jordan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jordan research. Another 294 words (21 lines of text) covering the years 1426, 1427, 1459, 1562, 1569, 1690, 1696, 1707, 1743, 1747, 1749, 1754, 1760, 1762, 1771, 1776, 1789, 1794, 1814, 1821, 1825, 1833, 1843, 1893 and 1897 are included under the topic Early Jordan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jordan Spelling Variations

French surnames were subject to numerous alterations in spelling because of the various cultural groups that inhabited specific regions. Eventually, each region possessed its own local dialect of the French language. The early development of the French language, however, was also influenced by other languages. For example, Old French was infused with Germanic words and sounds when barbarian tribes invaded and settled in France after the fall of the Roman Empire. Middle French also borrowed heavily from the Italian language during the Renaissance. As a result of these linguistic and cultural influences, the name Jordan is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Jourdan, Jordan, Jourdain, Jordain, Jourdaine, Jordaine, Jourde, Jorde, Jourdaneau, Jordaneau, Jourdanot, Jordanot, Jourdeneau, Jordeneau, Jourdenot, Jordenot, Jourdanet, Jordanet, Jourdenet, Jordenet, Jourdaney, Jordaney, Jourdeney, Jordeney, Jourdin, Jordin, Jourdon, Jordon, Jourdeau, Jordeau, Jourda, Denon, Denoncourt, Denonfoux, Denonville, Denet, Denot, Deneau, Danon, Danot and many more.

Early Notables of the Jordan family

  • Camille Jordan (1771-1821), a politician
  • Alexis Jordan (1814-1897), a botanist

Jordan World Ranking

the United States, the name Jordan is the 110th most popular surname with an estimated 193,986 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Jordan is ranked the 565th most popular surname with an estimated 8,727 people with that name. 2 And in France, the name Jordan is the 2,423rd popular surname with an estimated 2,500 - 3,000 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Jordan as 308th with 11,597 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Jordan as 255th with 2,382 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Jordan as 229th with 25,534 people. 6

Jordan migration to the United States +

France was active as a cultural leader in the early 16th century. One particular area in which they lead was the exploration of the New World. The explorers, like Jacques Cartier in 1534, led the way to North America. Champlain, in 1608, made the first of twenty voyages to France to attract settlers and brought the first migrant in 1617. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec, and the French Acadian presence in the Maritimes had reached 500. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. The family name Jordan has made many distinguished contributions in France and New France to the world of science, culture, religion, and education. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Jordan were

Jordan Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Cicely Jordan, aged 24, who landed in Virginia in 1610 aboard the ship "Swan" 8
  • Samuel Jordan, who arrived in Virginia in 1610 8
  • Sisley Jordan, who arrived in Virginia in 1610 8
  • Peter Jordan, who landed in Virginia in 1622 8
  • William Jordan, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Jordan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Guillame Jordan, who landed in Louisiana in 1718-1724 8
  • Eliza Jordan, who landed in Virginia in 1719 8
  • Claude Jordan, aged 19, who arrived in Louisiana in 1719 8
  • Antoine Jordan, aged 19, who arrived in Louisiana in 1719 8
  • Michael Jordan, who landed in Virginia in 1723 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Jordan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Eva Cath Jordan, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1802 8
  • Mary Jordan, who landed in New York, NY in 1813 8
  • Nicolas Jordan, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1816 8
  • Dennis Jordan, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 8
  • Sarah I Jordan, aged 24, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1820-1873 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Jordan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Wesley Charles Jordan, (b. 1885), aged 20, Cornish carpenter, from Helston, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Oceanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Lansford, Pennsylvania, USA 9

Jordan migration to Canada +

Jordan Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • James Jordan, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Philip Jordan, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Miss. Ambe Jordan U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1783 was a passenger aboard "Cyrus" on August 21, 1783 from New York to Saint John River, listed as a child less than 10 years of age 10
  • Mr. Fraser Jordan U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1783 was a passenger aboard "Cyrus" on August 21, 1783 from New York to Saint John River, listed as a child more than 10 years of age 10
  • Mr. Gilbert Jordan U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1783 was a passenger aboard "Cyrus" on August 21, 1783 from New York to Saint John River, listed as a child more than 10 years of age 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Jordan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Martin Jordan, aged 16, Scottish settler who arrived in Red River Settlement, Canada in 1811 8
  • Michael Jordan, aged 45, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Pallas" from Cork, Ireland
  • Michael Jordan, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Pallas" from Cork, Ireland
  • David Jordan, aged 17, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Pallas" from Cork, Ireland
  • Michael Jordan, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Pallas" from Cork, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jordan migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the Second Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Second Fleet
  • Mr. James Jordan, (Sheridan, Gordan), (1766 - 1840), aged 24, Irish settler convicted in Dublin, Ireland in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entry, transported aboard the ship "Queen" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 7
  • Mr. Wiliam Jordan, British settler convicted in Devon, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Atlantic" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 8
Following the Second Fleet, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Jordan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Jordan migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Jordan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Jordan, (b. 1805), aged 35, English tanner and sawyer born in Berry Pomeroy travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Timandra" arriving in New Plymouth, Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand on 24th February 1842 15
  • Mrs. Tabitha Jordan, (b. 1801), aged 38, English settler born in Ashcombe travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Timandra" arriving in New Plymouth, Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand on 24th February 1842 15
  • Miss Mary Ann Jordan, (b. 1828), aged 14, English settler born in Ashcombe travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Timandra" arriving in New Plymouth, Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand on 24th February 1842 15
  • Mr. John Jordan, (b. 1831), aged 11, English settler born in Ashcombe travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Timandra" arriving in New Plymouth, Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand on 24th February 1842 15
  • Mr. George Jordan, (b. 1831), aged 11, English settler born in Ashcombe travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Timandra" arriving in New Plymouth, Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand on 24th February 1842 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Jordan (post 1700) +

  • Vernon Eulion Jordan Jr. (1935-2021), American business executive and civil rights activist in the United States from Atlanta, Georgia
  • Lee Roy Jordan (1941-2025), retired American NFL football linebacker, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983
  • Sheila Jeannette Jordan (1928-2025), American jazz singer and songwriter, recorded as a session musician with an array of critically acclaimed artists in addition to recording albums, pioneered a bebop and scat jazz singing style with an upright bass as the only accompaniment
  • Louis Jordan (1908-1975), American Jazz artist, songwriter and bandleader, known as the "The King of the Jukebox," in 2018, he posthumously received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Robert Leon Jordan (1934-2024), American district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
  • Charles C. Jordan (1954-2023), American professional basketball player
  • James Daniel Jordan (b. 1964), American politician currently serving in his ninth term in the U.S. House of Representatives as the representative for Ohio's 4th congressional district since 2007
  • James Daniel Jordan (b. 1964), American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Ohio's 4th congressional district since 2007. A member of the Republican Party, Jordan is a former collegiate wrestler and college wrestling coach
  • Edward "Kidd" Jordan (1935-2023), American jazz saxophonist and music educator from New Orleans, Louisiana
  • ... (Another 205 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. David A Jordan (1964-1985), American Private from Winfield, West Virginia, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 16
  • Mr. Horace David Jordan (1908-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Petersham, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 17
  • Mr. Ernest John Jordan (1919-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 18
  • Herbert Mason Jordan (d. 1945), British Leading Seaman aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 18
  • Mr. Kenneth FA Jordan (b. 1911), English Leading Cook (S) serving for the Royal Navy from Bigglesworth, Bedfordshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 19
  • ... (Another 15 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Suggested Readings for the name Jordan +

  • These Jordan Were Here by Octavia Perry.
  • Yesterday in the Texas Hill Country by Gilbert John Jordan.
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  4. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  6. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  7. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  10. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cambridge
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  16. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  17. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  18. Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
  19. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm

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