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

Jordal, 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 Jordal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jordal in America

Jordal is the 86005th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jordal surname appeared 217 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Jordal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jordal 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 Jordal

The surname Jordal is of Norwegian origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a toponymic name, derived from a specific location or geographic feature. The name likely originates from the Old Norse words "jord," meaning "earth" or "land," and "dal," signifying a valley or dale.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Jordal surname can be found in the "Diplomatarium Norvegicum," a collection of medieval Norwegian diplomas and charters dating back to the 13th century. The name appears in records from various regions of Norway, indicating its widespread use among farming communities in rural areas.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Jordal name gained prominence in the region of Vest-Agder, located in southern Norway. Historical records from this period mention several notable individuals bearing the surname, including Halvor Jordal, a respected farmer and landowner who lived in the late 16th century.

In the 18th century, the Jordal surname was particularly prevalent in the Setesdal valley, a picturesque region known for its traditional Norwegian culture and heritage. Hans Jordal, born in 1721, was a prominent figure in the local community, renowned for his expertise in woodcarving and traditional craftsmanship.

As the Jordal family dispersed throughout Norway over the centuries, the name underwent slight variations in spelling, such as Jordahl, Jordalen, and Jordalen. One notable bearer of the name was Nils Jordal, a renowned Norwegian author and playwright born in 1859, whose works explored themes of rural life and the struggles of the working class.

The Jordal surname also found its way to other parts of Scandinavia, including Sweden and Denmark. In Denmark, the name was sometimes spelled as Jordal or Jørdal. One notable Danish bearer of the name was Peter Jordal, a prominent merchant and ship owner who lived in the late 18th century.

Throughout its history, the Jordal surname has been associated with rural communities, agriculture, and a deep connection to the land. While the name may have evolved and spread across various regions, its origins remain firmly rooted in the Norwegian countryside, embodying the rugged beauty and resilience of the people who called those valleys their home.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jordal

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

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 Jordal 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 Jordal 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 Jordal was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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