Jourdan
A French topographic surname referring to someone living near the river Jordan or a place called Jourdain.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,051 Americans carry the last name Jourdan. That puts it at #11,965 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.89 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 112,342 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Jourdan surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
3.1K
1 in 112,342
Census rank
#11,965
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,612 bearers of the surname Jourdan in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.89 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 11965th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Jourdan, the largest self-reported group is White at 75.3%. The next largest groups are Black (13.9%) and Hispanic (4.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Jourdan
The surname Jourdan is of French origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin name "Jordanus," which itself is derived from the ancient Greek name "Iordanes," meaning "descending" or "flowing down." This is likely a reference to the Jordan River in the Middle East.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Jourdan can be found in various medieval records and documents from France, particularly in the regions of Normandy, Brittany, and Languedoc. The name was often spelled in various ways, such as Jourdan, Jourden, Jourdin, and Jordain.
One notable historical reference to the name Jourdan is in the famous Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book mentions several individuals with the surname Jourdan, indicating that the name had already spread to England by that time.
In the 13th century, a French nobleman named Guillaume Jourdan de Lille (1200-1272) was a prominent diplomat and author who served as a chamberlain to King Louis IX of France. Another notable figure was Jean Jourdan (1322-1384), a French theologian and professor at the University of Paris.
During the Renaissance period, the name Jourdan was associated with several notable artists and intellectuals. Jean Jourdan (1495-1556) was a French painter and engraver who worked in the Northern Renaissance style. Jacques Jourdan (1558-1630) was a French mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of comets.
In more recent history, Camille Jourdan (1805-1872) was a French politician and statesman who served as the Minister of Finance under Napoleon III. Jean-Baptiste Jourdan (1762-1833) was a celebrated French military leader who played a crucial role in the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.
Throughout its long history, the surname Jourdan has been associated with diverse individuals from various fields, including nobility, religion, arts, sciences, and politics. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, the name has maintained its presence and significance across multiple generations and geographical regions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Jourdan
Among Census respondents with the surname Jourdan, the largest self-reported group is White at 75.3%. The next largest groups are Black (13.9%) and Hispanic (4.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Jourdan bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Jourdan surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White75.3%
- Black or African American13.9%
- Hispanic or Latino4.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.0%
- Two or more races2.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Jourdan surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,965 | #11,965 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,612 | 2,612 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.89 | 0.89 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Jourdan bearers went from 2,612 to 2,612 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #11,965 to #11,965.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Jourdan
FAQ
Jourdan surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Jourdan?
The surname Jourdan holds position #11,965 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 3,051 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.89 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Jourdan surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Jourdan, the largest self-reported group is White at 75.3%. The next largest groups are Black (13.9%) and Hispanic (4.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.