Surname Gordan - Meaning and Origin

Gordan: What does the surname Gordan mean?

The last name Gordan is of Scottish, Irish and Jewish origin and it is a variant of the name Gordon. It is derived from the place name Gordon, in Berwickshire, Scotland. The name comes from the Welsh words "gor" meaning spacious, and "din" meaning fort, collectively suggesting the interpretation of "great hill" or "spacious fort". The name has historical significance since Gordan clan was one of the powerful clans in Scotland and the Gordans have played significant roles in Scotland’s history. Over time, the name spread to other countries such as Ireland and later to North America due to migration. In its Jewish form, it is of Ashkenazic origin. Regardless of the cultural context, the last name Gordan denotes a sense of strength and resilience. Yet, like all surnames, specific meanings can differ based on regional and family interpretation.

Gordan: Where does the name Gordan come from?

The surname Gordan is believed to have originated from Scotland. It is derived from the place named Gordon, located in Berwickshire, in the southeast of Scotland. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard de Gordon, which was dated around 1150, in the "Records of the Monastery of Kelso".

The name Gordan is said to mean "spacious fort" and was adopted by a large Scottish clan known as the House of Gordon. Over the centuries, the Gordan family spread throughout Scotland and into other parts of the British Isles. Through emigration, particularly during the time of the Highland clearances in the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname travelled further afield to North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Today, the surname Gordan can be found in these regions. It seems to be most common in the United States of America, consistent with the large scale of Scottish and Irish immigration to North America in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. It can also be found, to a lesser extent, in countries such as Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Gordan

The surname Gordan derives its roots from the ancient and famous name Gordon, which originated from a place in Berwickshire, Scotland. Over time, various spellings of the name have emerged due to historical migration and changes in transliteration techniques. Some people use the spelling variant Gordan to identify their Scottish heritage, keeping the original sound.

Alternate spellings or forms of the name include Gordone, Gorden, Gordan, and Guaradon. Mistakenly, it could also be documented as Garden or Gardyne. Occasionally, it might be found interchanged with the Dutch/German surname, Gorden, because of its phonetic similarity, even though there is no known historical link between them.

The surname is further modulated with prefixes and suffixes resulting in variants like MacGordon, meaning "son of Gordon" and Gordonsmith. There are also patronymic forms like Gordonsdatter and Gordonovich, meaning "Gordon's daughter" and "Gordon's son" respectively.

In certain cases, Gordon has been adopted as a first name which led to new formed surnames, like Gordonsmith or Gordonjohn.

Please note that suffixes might follow the gender and grammar rules of the countries of residence. Therefore, surnames like Gordonovich may show gender-based changes in countries like Russia.

Famous people with the name Gordan

• Ruth Gordan: An American actress and playwright, best known for her work in films like "Harold and Maude" and "Rosemary's Baby", for which she won an Academy Award.
• Kim Gordan: An American musician, best known as the bassist, guitarist, and vocalist of the alternative rock band Sonic Youth.
• Dejan Gordan: A Serbian basketball player who has represented his country in international competitions.
• Sue Gordan: An American intelligence official who served as the principal deputy Director of National Intelligence in the Trump administration.
• Kellen Gordan: An American actor best known for his roles in popular TV series like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Jane The Virgin".
• Dexter Gordan: A tenor saxophonist, bandleader, composer, and actor, considered one of the first players of bebop.
• Majandra Delfino (born Maria Alejandra Mares-Guia Delfino): Known as Majandra Gordan in public, she is a Venezuelan-born American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Maria DeLuca in the TV series Roswell.
• Arthur H. Gordan: An attorney and former federal prosecutor, who was the inaugural United States Attorney for the District of Delaware. Note: There are not many famous people with the last name 'Gordan'. It's also possible to confuse the name with 'Gordon'.

Other surnames

Gorday