Contents [hide]

Jordon History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Jordon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland
Scotland

Early Origins of the Jordon family

The surname Jordon was first found in Suffolk, where the name first appeared in the early 12th century. Like many surnames, the name Jordon was taken from a common personal name at the time.

The personal name Jordan (and the female equivalent, Jordana) comes from the River Jordan; some knights and soldiers returning from the Crusades brought some of the water of the River Jordan back with them to baptize their children with and therefore gave the name to those children. 1 2 3

We should point out at this time that another reputable source disagrees with this etymology. "Not, as has been fancifully conjectured, from the river Jordan, in Crusading times, but from Jourdain, an early Norman baptismal name, probably corrupted from the Latin Hodiernus, which was a not uncommon personal name of the same period. It may be remarked that the names Jourdain and Hodierna, the feminine form, occur almost contemporaneously in the pedigree of Sackville." 4

"Jordan is a name established in many other parts of England besides the North and East Ridings, for instance, in Bucks, Derbyshire, Devonshire, Essex, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, etc. In the 13th century it was common as Jordan and Jurdan in Oxfordshire, and was also represented in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, etc. (H. R.). The Jordans of Enstone, Oxfordshire, have been resident in that parish since the 14th century (Jordan's "Enstone"). This surname is a form of Jourdain, an early Norman baptismal name." 5

In Scotland, "Jordan the Fleming was chancellor to David I in 1142-43, in a charter of Adam son of Swain, c. 1136-53. Jordan de Wodford, charter witness in Angus, c. 1170. Jordanus Brae granted a piece of land to the church of S. Mary and S. Kentigern of Lanark, c. 1214. Magister William Jordanus witnessed confirmation charter by Gilbert, bishop of Aberdeen between 1228-39." 6

Early History of the Jordon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jordon research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1182, 1202, 1327, 1561, 1569, 1603, 1609, 1610, 1611, 1612, 1613, 1619, 1623, 1624, 1625, 1627, 1628, 1632, 1640, 1650, 1685, 1687, 1691, 1698, 1707, 1770 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Jordon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jordon Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Jordon were recorded, including Jordan, Jordain, Jorden, Jordana, Jordens, Jordin, Jourdain, Jourdan and many more.

Early Notables of the Jordon family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Joseph Jordan (1603-1685), vice-admiral, probably related to John Jourdain [q. v.], president of the English factories in the East Indies, slain there in June 1619. 7Thomas Jordan (ca.1612-1685), was an English poet, playwright and actor, starting as a boy actor in the King's Revels Company. 7William Jordan (fl. 1611), Cornish dramatist, lived at Helston in Cornwall, and is supposed to have been the author of the mystery or sacred drama 'Gwreans an Bys, the Creation of the World.' 7Edward Jorden (1569-1632), was an English physician and chemist, born in 1569 at High...
Another 120 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jordon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jordon Ranking

In the United States, the name Jordon is the 2,539^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Jordon family to Ireland

Some of the Jordon family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 85 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jordon migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Jordon arrived in North America very early:

Jordon Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Dorothy Jordon, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1792 9
Eliza Jordon, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1792 9
Henry Jordon, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1792 9
Ann Margarett Jordon, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1792 9
Nicholas Jordon, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1792 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jordon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

M Jordon, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1860 9
William E Jordon, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1861 9
Charles Jordon, aged 26, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1870 9
John Jordon, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1870 9
Conrad Jordon, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1876 9

Jordon migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Jordon Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

James Jordon, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Philip Jordon, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Phoebe Jordon, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Samuel Jordon, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Jordon Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Martin Jordon, who arrived in Canada in 1817

Jordon migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Jordon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Edmond Jordon, aged 23, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Harry Lorrequer" 10
William Jordon, aged 36, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Harry Lorrequer" 10
Edward Jordon, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harry Lorrequer" in 1849 10
William Jordon, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harry Lorrequer" in 1849 10
Charley Jordon, aged 24, a blacksmith, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Calabar" 11

Jordon 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:

Jordon Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

G. W. Jordon, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thames City" in 1860
Miss Alice A Jordon, (b. 1863), aged 8 months, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Ivanhoe" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th June 1864 12
Mrs. Catherine Jordon, (b. 1837), aged 27, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Ivanhoe" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th June 1864 12
Mr. William Jordon, (b. 1838), aged 26, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Ivanhoe" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th June 1864 12
Miss Louisa E Jordon, (b. 1862), aged 2, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Ivanhoe" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th June 1864 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Jordon (post 1700) +

Robert E. Jordon M.D., American professor in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston
Philip Jordon (1933-1965), Native American NBA basketball player
Perley Jordon, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Thompson, 1834-35, 1838 13
L. S. Jordon, American politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Ohio County, 1875 13
John H. Jordon, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1900; U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, 1909-13 13
James A. Jordon, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1960 (alternate), 1964 13
F. S. Jordon, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maine, 1908 13
Mark Jordon (b. 1965), British actor, best known for playing PC Phil Bellamy in the British TV Series Heartbeat
Darren Jordon (b. 1960), British journalist
Raymond Clarence "Slug" Jordon (1937-2012), Australian first-class cricketer

The Jordon Motto +

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

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HARRY LORREQUER 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849HarryLorrequer.htm
South Australian Register Tuesday 2nd August 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Calabar 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/williamstuart1853.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html