UK surname
A variant spelling of Jordan, derived from the river name.
In the 1881 census there were 56 people recorded with the Jerdan surname, ranking it #25,733 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 32, ranked #35,887, down from #25,733 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Eyemouth, Carham and Ford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jerdan is 125 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 42.9%.
1881 census count
56
Ranked #25,733
Modern count
32
2016, ranked #35,887
Peak year
1891
125 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Jerdan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Jerdan surname density by area, 1891 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 | 67 | #21,440 |
| 1861 | historical | 78 | #23,836 |
| 1881 | historical | 56 | #25,733 |
| 1891 | historical | 125 | #20,713 |
| 1901 | historical | 66 | #26,794 |
| 1911 | historical | 39 | #29,025 |
| 1997 | modern | 35 | #34,174 |
| 1998 | modern | 41 | #33,747 |
| 1999 | modern | 39 | #34,058 |
| 2000 | modern | 36 | #34,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 34 | #34,356 |
| 2002 | modern | 38 | #34,307 |
| 2003 | modern | 34 | #34,681 |
| 2004 | modern | 31 | #35,105 |
| 2005 | modern | 30 | #35,347 |
| 2006 | modern | 30 | #35,526 |
| 2007 | modern | 32 | #35,530 |
| 2008 | modern | 35 | #35,441 |
| 2009 | modern | 38 | #35,380 |
| 2010 | modern | 32 | #35,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 32 | #35,831 |
| 2012 | modern | 29 | #35,991 |
| 2013 | modern | 28 | #36,096 |
| 2014 | modern | 30 | #36,005 |
| 2015 | modern | 31 | #35,939 |
| 2016 | modern | 32 | #35,887 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Eyemouth, Carham, Ford, Mawgan in Meneage and St Pancras. 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 | Eyemouth | Berwick |
| 2 | Carham | Northumberland |
| 3 | Ford | Northumberland |
| 4 | Mawgan in Meneage | Cornwall |
| 5 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Jerdan 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 Jerdan, 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 Jerdan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Jerdan 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, Jerdan 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 Jerdan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Jerdan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname JERDAN is of English origin, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the place name 'Jerden' or 'Jerdon', which was likely a small hamlet or village in England. The name is thought to have its roots in the Old English words 'gyr' meaning 'mud' or 'clay' and 'dun' meaning 'hill' or 'down', suggesting that the original place name referred to a muddy or clayey hill.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name JERDAN can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1595, where a John Jerdan is listed as a resident of the county. This suggests that the name was already established in the area by the late 16th century.
In the 17th century, the name appears in various parish records across southern England, particularly in the counties of Sussex, Surrey, and Kent. One notable bearer of the name was William Jerdan, a prominent English writer and journalist born in 1782 in Kelso, Scotland. He founded and edited several influential literary magazines, including The Literary Gazette and The Satirist.
Another individual of note was Thomas Jerdan, a British artist and engraver born in 1788 in London. He is known for his work as an engraver and illustrator for various publications, including The Literary Gazette, which was edited by his brother William Jerdan.
In the 19th century, the name JERDAN gained some prominence in the United States, with several individuals bearing the name making their mark in various fields. One such person was Charles Jerdan, born in 1837 in New York, who became a prominent lawyer and judge in Illinois.
Another notable figure was Mary Blanche Jerdan, born in 1855 in New York, who was a celebrated opera singer and vocal teacher. She performed in major opera houses across the United States and Europe during the late 19th century.
Moving into the 20th century, one can find examples of individuals with the surname JERDAN who achieved success in various fields. For instance, William Jerdan Jr., born in 1901 in Pennsylvania, was a respected architect known for his work on numerous public buildings and educational institutions in the northeastern United States.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jerdan 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. Berwickshire leads with 14 Jerdans recorded in 1881 and an index of 211.80x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Berwickshire | 14 | 211.80x |
| Midlothian | 13 | 17.77x |
| Northumberland | 9 | 11.08x |
| Selkirkshire | 8 | 161.94x |
| Devon | 4 | 3.52x |
| Roxburghshire | 4 | 40.44x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.55x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.15x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Carham in Northumberland leads with 9 Jerdans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4285.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Carham | 9 | 4285.71x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 8 | 27.18x |
| Eyemouth | 8 | 1454.55x |
| Galashiels | 8 | 437.16x |
| Channelkirk | 4 | 3636.36x |
| Plymouth Charles The | 4 | 79.84x |
| Dalkeith | 3 | 208.33x |
| Melrose | 3 | 348.84x |
| Ayton | 2 | 526.32x |
| Edinburgh St Marys | 2 | 140.85x |
| Jedburgh | 1 | 103.09x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.54x |
| St Gilesin Fields London | 1 | 217.39x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 3.43x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 2.28x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Jerdan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Jerdan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Jerdan households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Comedian (Actor) | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Engeneer R N Pensioner (Off) | 1 |
| Essence Maker (M C) | 1 |
| Gentlewoman | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 56 people were recorded with the Jerdan surname. That placed it at #25,733 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 32 in 2016. That gives Jerdan a modern rank of #35,887.
A variant spelling of Jordan, derived from the river name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jerdan 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.