Surname Gorden - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Gorden: What does the surname Gorden mean?
The surname Gorden is of Scottish origin and is a variant of the surname "Gordon", which means "spacious fort". It is derived from the place near Aberdeenshire which was originally named "Gore Dun", emphasizing the geographical aspect i.e., a hill or fort. Some of the earliest recordings of this surname come from the Scottish nobility, namely the Clan Gordon. Over time, the surname dispersal occurred through emigration, resulting in variations in the name's spelling. Despite these changes, the fundamental essence of the lineage "Gorden" remains rooted in strength, space, and strategic capacities as its interpretation implies.
Order DNA origin analysisGorden: Where does the name Gorden come from?
The surname Gorden is considered to be of Scottish origin and it is a habitational name from a place in Berwickshire, Scotland, named with the Welsh elements gor ‘spacious’ + din ‘fort’. The surname then spread to Ireland during the Middle Ages. Today, most people with the Gorden surname are located in the United States, making it most common there. Additionally, it's found in relatively high frequencies also in Australia, Canada, England, and New Zealand. Variants include Gordon, Gordan, and Gardon among others. Notably, the variant "Gordon" is more widespread than "Gorden". Despite the surname's popularity in various locations, its overall occurrences remain relatively rare, thus making the surname somewhat unique globally.
Variations of the surname Gorden
The surname Gorden has various variants and alternative spellings due to its diverse origins in different cultures. Some common variants include Gordon, Gordan, Garden, and Gurden. These variances reflect the many dialectal differences in pronunciation and spelling across regions.
The surname Gordon is the most common variant and is of Scottish origin, associated with a clan from the Scottish Highlands. It is named after the town of Gordon, in Berwickshire. This name might be derived from the Welsh words "gor", meaning spacious, and "din", signifying a hill or fort.
In some cases, Gorden can be an Americanized spelling of the German surname Garten or the Jewish surname Gordenstejn.
In other instances, it may be a variant of the English surname Gurdon, derived from Old English words 'gore', which means a small triangular piece of land, and 'dun', which stands for a hill.
As a surname of English origin, there may also be connections to the name Garden, which possibly denotes a person who lived near or worked in a garden. This could be a location or occupational-based surname.
It's important to note that spellings of surnames may have changed over time, and thus the current forms may have evolved greatly from their original versions.
Famous people with the name Gorden
- Larry Gordon: American film producer.
- Levon Helm: American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter best known as a member of The Band.
- Stephen Moyer: English actor, film producer and director.
- Phil Gorden: English former professional footballer who played as a defender.
- Yotam Ottolenghi: Israeli-British chef, cookbook writer, restaurant manager, and food writer.
- Jessie Gordon: Scottish singer and songwriter.
- Sienna Guillory: English actress and former model.
- Paul Gordon: American songwriter, author, and film producer.
- Simon Gordon: Australian actor, writer, director and radio presenter.
- Robin Gorden: American physician, author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.