NameCensus.

UK surname

Jorden

A topographic surname derived from the Old English word "iorden," referring to someone who lived near the River Jordan.

In the 1881 census there were 457 people recorded with the Jorden surname, ranking it #7,240 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 129, ranked #26,270, down from #7,240 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tunbridge Wells, Gloucester and Bath and North East Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jorden is 753 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 71.8%.

1881 census count

457

Ranked #7,240

Modern count

129

2016, ranked #26,270

Peak year

1851

753 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jorden had 457 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,240 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016, ranked #26,270.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 753 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Jorden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jorden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jorden 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 753 #3,529
1861 historical 642 #4,178
1881 historical 457 #7,240
1891 historical 510 #7,307
1901 historical 259 #12,848
1911 historical 214 #14,333
1997 modern 111 #25,394
1998 modern 119 #24,918
1999 modern 116 #25,487
2000 modern 121 #24,824
2001 modern 114 #25,344
2002 modern 114 #25,886
2003 modern 107 #26,617
2004 modern 109 #26,607
2005 modern 97 #28,485
2006 modern 102 #27,926
2007 modern 107 #27,557
2008 modern 108 #27,684
2009 modern 106 #28,666
2010 modern 116 #27,704
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 129 #26,352
2015 modern 123 #27,088
2016 modern 129 #26,270

Geography

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Where Jordens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, London parishes, Shelford, Great and Inwardleigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tunbridge Wells, Gloucester, Bath and North East Somerset and Hertsmere. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth Cambridgeshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Shelford, Great Cambridgeshire
5 Inwardleigh Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tunbridge Wells 001 Tunbridge Wells
2 Gloucester 015 Gloucester
3 Bath and North East Somerset 022 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Gloucester 013 Gloucester
5 Hertsmere 011 Hertsmere

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jorden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jorden

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Jorden 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

Jorden is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jorden falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jorden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Jorden

The surname Jorden originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "gyrdan," which means "to gird" or "to encircle." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a circular earthwork or enclosure.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Jorden can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Iordanus." This suggests that the name had already been established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Jordan," "Jordayn," and "Jordene." These variations reflect the different regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.

The name Jorden was particularly prevalent in the counties of Devon, Somerset, and Gloucestershire in southwestern England. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include:

1. Sir Robert Jorden (1539-1610), an English military leader and landowner who served under Queen Elizabeth I. 2. Edward Jorden (1569-1632), an English physician and writer who published influential works on mental health and melancholy. 3. Thomas Jorden (1590-1650), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the English Civil War. 4. John Jorden (1619-1685), an English clergyman and author of theological works. 5. William Jorden (1611-1685), an English politician and landowner from Wiltshire.

The surname Jorden is also associated with various place names in England, such as Jorden's Hill in Devon and Jorden's Farm in Somerset. These places likely derived their names from individuals bearing the Jorden surname who lived or owned land in those areas.

Over time, the spelling of the surname evolved further, leading to variations such as "Jourdan," "Jordon," and "Jordin." However, the core meaning and origins of the name remain rooted in the Old English word "gyrdan" and its association with circular earthworks or enclosures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jorden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jorden 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 68 Jordens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.52x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 68 1.52x
Essex 41 4.65x
Devon 34 3.66x
Kent 33 2.16x
Lancashire 27 0.51x
Durham 26 1.96x
Warwickshire 25 2.22x
Suffolk 19 3.49x
Surrey 19 0.87x
Yorkshire 18 0.41x
Cheshire 16 1.62x
Derbyshire 16 2.29x
Somerset 13 1.81x
Cumberland 10 2.60x
Sussex 10 1.33x
Hertfordshire 8 2.60x
Worcestershire 8 1.37x
Gloucestershire 6 0.68x
Hampshire 6 0.66x
Herefordshire 6 3.28x
Northamptonshire 6 1.43x
Monmouthshire 5 1.55x
Northumberland 5 0.75x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.48x
Staffordshire 4 0.27x
Glamorgan 3 0.39x
Leicestershire 3 0.61x
Norfolk 3 0.44x
Wiltshire 3 0.76x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.71x
Huntingdonshire 2 2.25x
Lincolnshire 2 0.28x
Oxfordshire 2 0.72x
Shropshire 2 0.52x
Berkshire 1 0.30x
Cornwall 1 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Elsenham in Essex leads with 17 Jordens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2361.11x.

Place Total Index
Elsenham 17 2361.11x
Woodham Mortimer 13 2549.02x
Aston 11 3.55x
Birmingham 11 2.93x
Middlewich 10 492.61x
Holy Trinity 9 8.45x
Matlock 9 95.85x
Paddington London 9 5.48x
Bridgewater 8 40.98x
Islington London 8 1.85x
Spitalfields London 8 23.81x
Westoe 8 10.62x
Camberwell 7 2.45x
Chelsea London 7 5.20x
East Portlemouth 7 1489.36x
Hackney London 7 2.79x
Mile End Old Town London 7 7.36x
Broadwoodwidger 6 566.04x
Daventry 6 101.01x
Ramsgate 6 24.12x
Rotherhithe 6 10.87x
Stourbridge 6 39.97x
Tanfield 6 37.95x
Whitehaven 6 29.27x
Hereford St Nicholas 5 200.80x
Ipswich St Mary Key 5 354.61x
Macclesfield 5 11.41x
Mettingham 5 892.86x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 6.98x
Staveley 5 40.26x
Wigan 5 6.75x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 4.85x
Chatham 4 9.54x
Dawdon 4 24.46x
Flimby 4 123.08x
Hemel Hempstead 4 28.82x
Longbenton 4 14.21x
Milton In Milton 4 61.73x
Monmouth 4 46.73x
Plymouth Charles The 4 9.76x
Portsea 4 2.23x
Seal 4 162.60x
St Albans St Stephen 4 148.70x
St George Hanover Square 4 5.08x
St Pancras London 4 1.11x
Stockton On Tees 4 6.24x
Swanbourne 4 540.54x
Thakeham 4 481.93x
Westbourne 4 106.67x
Barcheston 3 1071.43x
Barton Upon Irwell 3 7.52x
Boxford 3 297.03x
Bradford On Avon 3 23.72x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 3.56x
Colchester St Giles 3 34.44x
Crook Billy Row 3 17.63x
Deptford St Paul 3 2.55x
Gillingham 3 9.55x
Holcombe Burnell 3 882.35x
Ipswich St Mathew 3 19.67x
Lambeth 3 0.77x
Llandaff 3 11.59x
Newchurch 3 6.92x
Paulton 3 91.19x
South Tawton 3 156.25x
Toxteth Park 3 1.67x
Acton 2 7.64x
Derby St Werburgh 2 4.95x
Exeter St Mary Major 2 35.65x
Herne 2 29.63x
Kensington London 2 0.81x
Kingswinford 2 3.65x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.66x
Liverpool 2 0.62x
Long Stow 2 869.57x
Nafferton 2 105.82x
Stanton Lacy 2 60.06x
Tonbridge 2 3.64x
Tottenham 2 2.81x
Wembury 2 238.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Sarah 21
Elizabeth 17
Alice 13
Ann 11
Ellen 10
Annie 8
Eliza 8
Jane 8
Catherine 7
Margaret 7
Ada 5
Martha 5
Charlotte 4
Emma 4
Florence 4
Harriet 4
Clara 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Harriett 3
Lucy 3
Ruth 3
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Eva 2
Frances 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Maud 2
Amelia 1
Arabella 1
Augusta 1
Cassandry 1
Elenor 1
Elizath. 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eunise 1
Hariett 1
Isabella 1
Ivey 1
James 1
Janies 1
Jeanette 1
Jenny 1
Jessica 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 26
John 19
Thomas 17
George 16
James 16
Charles 10
Henry 6
Joseph 6
Patrick 6
Richard 6
Michael 5
Robert 5
Arthur 4
Frederick 4
Walter 4
Edward 3
Francis 3
Albert 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Matthew 2
Wm. 2
Auguste 1
Daniel 1
Dominick 1
Earnest 1
Ed. 1
Edwin 1
Emma 1
Ernest 1
Fredk.W. 1
Gramville 1
Hernest 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Jenery 1
Jessie 1
Jessy 1
Lewis 1
Martin 1
Mathew 1
Morley 1
Nicholas 1
Owen 1
R.O. 1
Richarh 1
Richd. 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Jorden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jorden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 457 people were recorded with the Jorden surname. That placed it at #7,240 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jorden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016. That gives Jorden a modern rank of #26,270.

What does the Jorden surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from the Old English word "iorden," referring to someone who lived near the River Jordan.

What does the Jorden map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jorden 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.