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

Jordan, 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 Jordan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jordan in America

Jordan is the 116th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jordan surname appeared 208,403 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 71 people would have the surname Jordan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jordan 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 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jordan

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

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

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

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