History of your Surname
Get access to Gordan family records.Start a free trial

Gordan Family History

Gordan Name Meaning

German: variant of Jordan . The surname Gordan is very rare in Germany. Irish (Wexford and Sligo): adopted as an Anglicized form of Mag Mhuirneacháin ‘son of Muirneachán’ a personal name from a diminutive of muirneach ‘lovable’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Gorden, Gorman, Mordan, Gerdon, Jordan, Nordan, Jorden, Gordin

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Gordan family from?

You can see how Gordan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gordan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gordan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 141 Gordan families living in Ontario. This was about 42% of all the recorded Gordan's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Gordan families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gordan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Gordan ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Gordan. 24% of Gordan men worked as a Farmer and 50% of Gordan women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gordan were Bricklayer and Income. .

View Census Data for Gordan | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    24%
  • Labourer
    20%
  • Laborer
    10%
  • Bricklayer
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Maid
    50%
  • Income
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Gordan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 56,000 census records available for the last name Gordan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gordan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Gordan

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Gordan. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Gordan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Gordan. For the veterans among your Gordan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gordan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gordan family history

Discover More

What is the average Gordan lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Gordan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Gordan in 1952 was 48, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gordan

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gordan family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Gordan last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial