Find out how popular the last name Gordon is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Gordon.

Gordon, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Gordon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gordon in America

Gordon is the 161st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gordon surname appeared 161,833 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 55 people would have the surname Gordon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gordon to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Gordon

The surname Gordon has its origins in the medieval territories of Britain and France. It is derived from the Old French word "gu(i)erredon," which means "reward" or "recompense." This name was likely bestowed upon someone who had received a reward or land grant for their service or loyalty.

The Gordon surname is first recorded in the 12th century in Normandy, France. One of the earliest references to the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named "Gordun" in Huntingdonshire, England.

As the Normans expanded their influence in Britain, the name Gordon spread throughout Scotland and England. One of the most notable bearers of the name was Sir Adam de Gordon, a 12th-century knight who fought alongside William the Lion, King of Scots. His descendants established the powerful Gordon clan in the northeast of Scotland.

The Gordon family played a significant role in Scottish history, with members serving as nobles, statesmen, and military leaders. One of the most famous Gordon figures was George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly (1514-1562), who led his clan in several battles against the English during the Rough Wooing.

Another prominent Gordon was John Gordon of Brightons (1544-1619), a Scottish Catholic priest and writer who was known for his treatise on the antiquity of the Gordon family. His work traced the family's lineage back to the ancient Roman times, although some of his claims have been disputed by modern historians.

In England, the Gordon surname was also associated with notable individuals, such as Lord George Gordon (1751-1793), a British politician and Protestant activist who led the Gordon Riots of 1780, one of the most destructive anti-Catholic riots in British history.

Other remarkable Gordons include Sir John Watson Gordon (1788-1864), a Scottish painter and portrait artist, and Lord George Gordon Byron (1788-1824), the renowned English Romantic poet often referred to simply as "Byron."

While the Gordon surname originated in Britain and France, it has since spread worldwide and has been adopted by people of various backgrounds and nationalities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gordon

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Gordon.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Gordon was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Gordon has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Gordon was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Gordon, please contact us.

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