NameCensus.

UK surname

Jordan

A baptismal surname derived from the River Jordan, likely adopted by Crusaders and pilgrims returning from the Holy Land.

In the 1881 census there were 13,212 people recorded with the Jordan surname, ranking it #309 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 25,155, ranked #228, up from #309 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Shropshire and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jordan is 25,376 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 90.4%.

1881 census count

13,212

Ranked #309

Modern count

25,155

2016, ranked #228

Peak year

2014

25,376 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jordan had 13,212 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #309 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 25,155 in 2016, ranked #228.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 18,581 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Jordan surname distribution map

The map shows where the Jordan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Jordan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jordan over time

The 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 7,268 #386
1861 historical 6,600 #424
1881 historical 13,212 #309
1891 historical 12,879 #340
1901 historical 16,552 #306
1911 historical 18,581 #251
1997 modern 23,685 #235
1998 modern 24,570 #236
1999 modern 24,758 #236
2000 modern 24,807 #231
2001 modern 24,202 #230
2002 modern 24,839 #229
2003 modern 24,210 #230
2004 modern 24,115 #232
2005 modern 23,814 #231
2006 modern 23,879 #230
2007 modern 24,066 #231
2008 modern 24,216 #230
2009 modern 24,790 #230
2010 modern 25,323 #230
2011 modern 24,936 #230
2012 modern 24,767 #227
2013 modern 25,201 #227
2014 modern 25,376 #227
2015 modern 25,257 #227
2016 modern 25,155 #228

Geography

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Where Jordans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Shropshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and Torridge. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 008 Copeland
2 Shropshire 036 Shropshire
3 Shropshire 039 Shropshire
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 012 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Torridge 009 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jordan

These lists show first names that appear often with the Jordan surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jordan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jordan, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Jordan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Jordan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Jordan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jordan is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jordan falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jordan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Jordan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Jordan

The surname Jordan originated in England, specifically in the county of Dorset. It dates back to the 12th century and is derived from the Old English words "ior" meaning "ground" and "dun" meaning "hill". This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived on a hill or near a raised area of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Jordan surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Dorset from 1195, where a person named Richard Jordan is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I.

During the Middle Ages, the Jordan surname was sometimes spelled as "Jordain" or "Jordane". It is believed to have originated as a place name before becoming a hereditary surname. One notable example is the village of Jordan's Hill in Dorset, which likely took its name from an early bearer of the Jordan surname who lived in the area.

In the 14th century, a man named John Jordan was recorded as a member of the gentry in Somerset. His exact birth and death dates are unknown, but his inclusion in historical records suggests that the Jordan family held a respected position in society during that time.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Jordan. Sir Joseph Jordan (1789-1859) was a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He achieved the rank of Vice Admiral and was knighted for his distinguished service.

Another famous bearer of the Jordan surname was Dorothy Jordan (1761-1816), an Irish actress and courtesan. She was well-known for her performances in London and had a long-term relationship with the Duke of Clarence, who later became King William IV of the United Kingdom.

In the field of science, Ernst Jordan (1858-1924) was a German mathematician and theoretical physicist. He made significant contributions to group theory and is remembered for the Jordan normal form in linear algebra.

Michael Jordan (born 1963) is arguably the most famous person with the Jordan surname. He is an American former professional basketball player who is widely considered one of the greatest athletes of all time. Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals with the surname Jordan throughout history. The name has its origins in medieval England and has since spread to various parts of the world, carrying a rich heritage and legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jordan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jordan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 1,635 Jordans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,635 1.27x
Lancashire 1,109 0.72x
Kent 1,042 2.37x
Yorkshire 953 0.75x
Surrey 811 1.29x
Warwickshire 639 1.96x
Staffordshire 570 1.31x
Devon 488 1.82x
Gloucestershire 473 1.87x
Leicestershire 394 2.75x
Worcestershire 358 2.12x
Essex 336 1.32x
Cheshire 297 1.04x
Northumberland 247 1.29x
Durham 230 0.60x
Hampshire 216 0.82x
Shropshire 216 1.94x
Somerset 193 0.93x
Suffolk 193 1.23x
Berkshire 188 1.94x
Norfolk 181 0.91x
Lanarkshire 176 0.42x
Sussex 175 0.80x
Monmouthshire 159 1.70x
Bedfordshire 152 2.27x
Buckinghamshire 131 1.68x
Glamorgan 127 0.57x
Oxfordshire 122 1.53x
Cornwall 119 0.81x
Wiltshire 117 1.02x
Nottinghamshire 110 0.63x
Cumberland 106 0.95x
Lincolnshire 104 0.50x
Derbyshire 95 0.47x
Hertfordshire 94 1.06x
Cambridgeshire 87 1.06x
Northamptonshire 87 0.72x
Herefordshire 82 1.55x
Huntingdonshire 69 2.69x
Midlothian 50 0.29x
Westmorland 32 1.13x
Pembrokeshire 30 0.73x
Channel Islands 26 0.68x
Radnorshire 24 2.30x
Dorset 20 0.24x
Ayrshire 19 0.20x
Caernarfonshire 15 0.29x
Angus 14 0.12x
Carmarthenshire 13 0.24x
Argyllshire 12 0.33x
Montgomeryshire 11 0.37x
Denbighshire 10 0.21x
Royal Navy 9 0.59x
Fife 8 0.10x
Renfrewshire 8 0.08x
West Lothian 8 0.41x
Brecknockshire 7 0.27x
Dunbartonshire 7 0.20x
Flintshire 6 0.17x
Wigtownshire 6 0.35x
Cardiganshire 3 0.10x
Isle of Man 2 0.08x
Merionethshire 2 0.08x
Rutland 2 0.21x
Shetland 2 0.15x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.01x
Berwickshire 1 0.06x
East Lothian 1 0.06x
Inverness-shire 1 0.03x
Perthshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 259 Jordans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.39x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 259 2.39x
Islington London 167 1.33x
Aston 156 1.74x
St Pancras London 145 1.40x
Liverpool 141 1.52x
Kensington London 121 1.69x
Leeds 113 1.56x
Camberwell 110 1.33x
Lambeth 101 0.90x
Shoreditch London 100 1.79x
Bethnal Green London 93 1.66x
Manchester 93 1.35x
Holy Trinity 92 2.99x
West Ham 90 1.60x
Bermondsey 85 2.21x
Ratby 84 117.14x
St Marylebone London 83 1.20x
Hackney London 78 1.08x
Govan 76 0.74x
Birkenhead 69 3.04x
Paddington London 64 1.35x
West Dean 64 15.56x
Brighton 62 1.41x
Salford 60 1.33x
Kidderminster Borough 59 5.98x
Reigate Foreign 58 8.52x
Portsea 57 1.10x
Plymouth Charles The 55 4.65x
Wolverhampton 55 1.64x
Bedminster 54 2.77x
Battersea 52 1.09x
St George Hanover Square 51 2.24x
Folkestone 50 5.85x
Leicester St Margaret 50 1.43x
Westbury On Severn East 50 8.74x
Barony 48 0.45x
Toxteth Park 47 0.91x
Cheltenham 46 2.36x
Rochester St Margaret 46 9.91x
Kingswinford 44 2.78x
Margate St John Baptist 44 5.46x
Mile End Old Town London 44 1.60x
Bradford 43 1.39x
Croydon 43 1.23x
Stockport 43 2.93x
Clerkenwell London 42 1.38x
Sheffield 41 1.01x
Chatham 40 3.30x
Everton 40 0.82x
Hulme 39 1.22x
Little Compton 39 175.83x
Reading St Giles 39 4.10x
West Derby 38 0.85x
Caldewgate 37 6.08x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 36 28.47x
Burton Upon Trent 36 3.53x
Leicester St Mary 36 3.11x
Lewisham 36 1.53x
Deal 35 9.32x
Greenwich 35 1.70x
Willenhall 35 4.29x
Henlow 34 82.38x
Handsworth 33 3.07x
Stansted Mountfitchet 33 51.26x
Bow London 32 1.95x
Goldhanger 32 145.45x
Hammersmith London 32 1.01x
Wing 32 44.24x
Dorking 31 7.34x
Downham 31 35.69x
Hampstead London 31 1.54x
Himley 31 202.75x
Stoke Damerel 31 1.65x
Tipton 31 2.32x
Walsall Foreign 31 1.38x
Dudley 30 1.46x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 30 0.43x
Plymouth St Andrew 30 1.45x
Chelsea London 29 0.75x
Ramsgate 29 4.03x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Jordan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 880
Elizabeth 474
Sarah 431
Ann 267
Emma 220
Jane 219
Ellen 205
Eliza 198
Annie 184
Emily 170
Alice 169
Margaret 138
Harriet 96
Martha 95
Hannah 92
Louisa 92
Catherine 84
Fanny 83
Charlotte 82
Ada 81
Maria 81
Edith 80
Caroline 79
Kate 79
Florence 73
Agnes 60
Anne 58
Clara 56
Lucy 54
Rose 54
Harriett 51
Frances 45
Amelia 42
Julia 41
Susan 40
Isabella 39
Rebecca 34
Amy 32
Esther 30
Matilda 29
Bridget 28
Sophia 27
Elizth. 25
Minnie 24
Anna 20
Bessie 20
Jessie 20
Lizzie 20
Rachel 20
Ruth 20

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Jordan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 782
John 734
Thomas 450
George 417
James 411
Henry 313
Charles 238
Joseph 203
Alfred 191
Edward 170
Robert 129
Richard 122
Samuel 121
Frederick 120
Albert 103
Arthur 96
Harry 95
Walter 94
Patrick 71
Michael 59
Herbert 49
Frank 48
Wm. 48
Ernest 46
Francis 46
Edwin 39
Benjamin 38
Daniel 34
David 32
Stephen 29
Thos. 28
Percy 21
Fredrick 20
Tom 19
Fred 18
Fredk. 16
Isaac 16
Martin 16
Chas. 15
Edwd. 15
Peter 15
Andrew 14
Edmund 13
Jacob 13
Mark 11
Philip 11
Geo. 10
Jabez 10
Leonard 10
Alexander 9

Top occupations

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 Jordan households.

FAQ

Jordan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jordan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 13,212 people were recorded with the Jordan surname. That placed it at #309 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jordan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 25,155 in 2016. That gives Jordan a modern rank of #228.

What does the Jordan surname mean?

A baptismal surname derived from the River Jordan, likely adopted by Crusaders and pilgrims returning from the Holy Land.

What does the Jordan map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jordan bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.