Surname Gordon - Meaning and Origin

Unveiling My Journey Through DNA: Surprises and Revelations Connecting My Gordon Lineage

Delving into the depths of my genealogy, my iGENEA DNA test report was not only an interesting journey but also a surprising revelation about my Gordon surname.

V. Gordon

Gordon: What does the surname Gordon mean?

The surname Gordon is of Scottish origin and has a rich historical background. The meaning of Gordon is believed to derive from the Gaelic word "gor-dun", which translates to "great hill" or "hill fort". The name usually refers to someone who lived near a large hill or a strong fortress, indicating its geographical implications. The name first appeared in Scotland, specifically from the town of Gordon, located in Berwickshire. Over the centuries, it was adopted by various families as their own and eventually spread across the globe, especially to English-speaking countries, through migration. The surname Gordon is also associated with Clan Gordon, one of the oldest and most powerful Scottish clans known for their vast territories in the Northeast of Scotland. Despite its geographical and historical roots, it's now shared by people of various ethnicities internationally.

Gordon: Where does the name Gordon come from?

The last name Gordon originates from Scotland, particularly from a place in Berwickshire, an area in the Scottish Borders region. The name Gordon began as a locational surname, taken from a location called Gordon, which possibly derived from the Welsh elements "gor," meaning "spacious," and "din," meaning "fort." The name gained prominence through a powerful Scottish clan known as Clan Gordon.

Today, the last name Gordon is common in various parts of the world due to widespread Scottish emigration. It remains prevalent in Scotland. Outside of Scotland, the name is particularly widespread in English-speaking countries, especially the United States and England. In the United States, the name is more prevalent among African-American populations, likely due to Scottish influences during the period of slavery. It is also common in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Moreover, the frequency of the Gordon surname in Jamaica indicates a presence in the Caribbean as well.

Variations of the surname Gordon

The surname Gordon originally comes from Scotland and is believed to have descended from the place named Gordon in Berwickshire. The name has variations and renditions due to geographical distributions and local dialects. The main variants and spellings of the surname 'Gordon' can include Gordan, Gordean, Gordeane, Gorden, Gourdon, Gurdon, Gordane, and Gordoun.

Completing the list of variants are more phonetic interpretations like Gord'n and Gordn. The "on" in the name can also be substituted with "in", as in Gordin or Gordan.

The suffix can also be extended like in the case of Gordoner, Gordoni, Gordonie, Gordonni, or even have prefixes such as MacGordon. Some might also change the 'G' to 'J' such as Jordon although it's more common as a given name rather than a surname.

Gordon is sometimes transformed into other languages like Gordoni in Italian or Gordo in Spanish. These are still relatively rare as most keep the original form in other languages.

Lastly, the surnames could be from matronymic sources where it’s based on a female ancestor's name like Gordon-Dau or Gordon-Mom.

Famous people with the name Gordon

• Jeff Gordon: Retired professional NASCAR driver, television broadcaster for Fox NASCAR.
• Kim Gordon: Founding member of the alternative rock band Sonic Youth.
• Dexter Gordon: Renowned jazz saxophonist.
• Jon Gordon: Author of numerous best-selling books.
• Robby Gordon: American race driver.
• Michael Gordon: 20th-century film director.
• Ruth Gordon: Oscar-winning actress and writer.
• Aaron Gordon: Professional NBA player.
• Byron "Whizzer" Gordon: Former NFL player.
• Pop Gordon: Baseball player with the Kansas City Monarchs.
• Bob Gordon: American saxophonist.
• Gale Gordon: American television and film actor.
• Hannah Gordon: British actress known for her roles in television series.
• Nina Gordon: American rock singer.
• Noah Gordon: American novelist.
• Robert Gordon: American rockabilly musician.
• Gordon Gordon: American author.
• Bert I. Gordon: Film director.
• Carol Gordon: Television writer.
• Melinda Gordon: Character in the television series 'Ghost Whisperer'.
• Gordon "Butch" Stewart: Jamaican-British business magnate.
• Charles George Gordon: British army officer.
• Joseph G. Gordon: Medal of Honor recipient.
• Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner: Also known as Sting, the lead vocalist of the rock band The Police.
• Gordon Lightfoot: Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist.

Other surnames

Gordon SeptsGordoun