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

Yordan, 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 Yordan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yordan in America

Yordan is the 102688th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yordan surname appeared 175 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 Yordan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yordan 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 Yordan

The surname Yordan originates from Eastern Europe, with notable roots in Bulgaria and surrounding Slavic regions. It is thought to have come into common usage in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name itself derives from the name Jordan, which has biblical associations, stemming from the Hebrew Yarden, meaning "to descend" or "to flow down," referencing the Jordan River.

In its earliest recorded form, Yordan appears in various medieval documents and records, highlighting its long-standing presence. One of the earliest instances can be found in a Bulgarian manuscript dating back to the 14th century, where it was registered in the annals of a monastery. This indicates that the name had already become established within social and religious communities.

During the Ottoman occupation of the Balkans, spanning from the 14th to the 19th century, the surname Yordan underwent various adaptations while still maintaining its core phonetic structure. These variations were influenced by the multilingual environment of the Empire and the resulting cross-cultural exchanges.

Among the prominent figures bearing the surname Yordan is Yordan Radichkov (1929–2004), a highly revered Bulgarian writer and playwright whose works have profoundly impacted Bulgarian literature. Another notable individual is Yordan Yovkov (1880–1937), a significant Bulgarian author best known for his collections of short stories and his impact on Bulgarian storytelling traditions.

In the world of sports, Yordan Letchkov, born in 1967, stands out as a former Bulgarian footballer who played a key role in Bulgaria's national team during the 1994 FIFA World Cup. His performance brought the name Yordan into international recognition.

Yordan Yovchev, born in 1973, is another distinguished athlete. He represents Bulgaria in gymnastics and made history by competing in six Olympic Games, establishing himself as a symbol of perseverance and excellence in the sport.

The surname Yordan has a rich history intertwined with cultural and historical milestones in Eastern Europe, particularly within Bulgarian heritage. Its biblical origins and evolution through centuries of social changes highlight its deep-rooted significance. Today, it remains a symbol of familial and cultural identity for many who share this storied surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yordan

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

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

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

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