UK surname
A surname derived from the personal name Gordon, originating from a Scottish territorial name.
In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Gordner surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #33,721 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Larbert, St Philip and Jacob and Moreton-in-the-Marsh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gordner is 132 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.0%.
1881 census count
2
Ranked #33,721
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
132 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gordner surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gordner surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 30 | #27,891 |
| 1861 | historical | 132 | #16,957 |
| 1881 | historical | 2 | #33,721 |
| 1891 | historical | 64 | #28,781 |
| 1901 | historical | 14 | #32,506 |
| 1911 | historical | 10 | #32,609 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 2 | #38,754 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Larbert, St Philip and Jacob, Moreton-in-the-Marsh, Lancaster and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Larbert | Stirling |
| 2 | St Philip and Jacob | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Moreton-in-the-Marsh | Warwickshire |
| 4 | Lancaster | Lancashire |
| 5 | Preston | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gordner surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gordner, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Gordner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gordner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Gordner is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gordner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gordner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gordner is believed to have originated in Germany, with the earliest records dating back to the late 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the German word "Gort," which refers to a small garden or cultivated piece of land. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who were gardeners or worked with the cultivation of crops.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Gordner surname can be found in the baptismal records of the town of Neunkirchen, located in the present-day state of Saarland, Germany. In 1598, a child named Hans Gordner was baptized, indicating that the family was present in the region at that time.
As the name spread throughout Germany, variations in spelling emerged, including Gordener, Gordner, and Gortner. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping during that period.
In the 18th century, a notable individual named Johann Gordner (1712-1782) was a prominent clockmaker in the city of Augsburg, which was renowned for its skilled artisans and craftsmen. His intricate timepieces were highly sought after and are now considered valuable antiques.
Another notable Gordner was Friedrich Gordner (1786-1846), a German philosopher and theologian. He authored several influential works exploring the relationship between religion and philosophy, and his ideas contributed to the intellectual discourse of his time.
The Gordner surname also found its way to other parts of Europe. In the early 19th century, a family with the name Gordner settled in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, specifically in the region of Transylvania, which is now part of modern-day Romania. This branch of the family was involved in the wine trade and owned vineyards in the region.
As migration patterns evolved, the Gordner name spread further afield. In the late 19th century, a German immigrant named Heinrich Gordner (1855-1923) settled in the United States, establishing a successful farming operation in the state of Pennsylvania.
Another notable Gordner was Kurt Gordner (1910-1989), a German-born artist who achieved recognition for his modernist paintings and sculptures. His works were exhibited in galleries across Europe and the United States.
Throughout its history, the Gordner surname has been associated with various professions, from gardeners and farmers to artisans, philosophers, and artists. While its origins can be traced back to Germany, the name has since spread across the globe, carrying with it a rich tapestry of cultural and historical narratives.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gordner surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Gloucestershire leads with 1 Gordners recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.46x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 26.46x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 5.23x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Norton in Gloucestershire leads with 1 Gordners recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gordner surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Eliza | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gordner surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Job | 1 |
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Gordner households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Shopkeeper | 1 |
| Thatcher | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Gordner surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Gordner a modern rank of #39,061.
A surname derived from the personal name Gordon, originating from a Scottish territorial name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gordner bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.