Gordon (/ˈɡɔːrdən/) is a masculine
given name in the
English language. The name is derived from the
Scottish surnameGordon. It is uncertain if this surname originated from a place name in
Scotland or in
France. The
Gordon in
Berwickshire, where the
family who bore the surname held lands in the 12th century, is of uncertain
etymology. It is also possible that this place name was named after settlers from France, who were named after a like-named place in
Normandy. The surname is thought to have been taken up as a given name in honour of the Major-General
Charles George Gordon, a British army officer who was killed in 1885, in
Khartoum.
Origin of the name
The
given nameGordon originates from a transferred use of the Scottish surname Gordon. The origin of this surname is debated. While it is considered to be derived from a place name, it is not certain that the place name of
Gordon, in Berwickshire, Scotland, is the origin of the surname.[1] Berwickshire was once the home of
Clan Gordon, and the earliest member of the family on record is of Richer de Gordun, who was lord of the barony of Gordon, in the mid-12th century.[2] This place name may be derived from the
Brythonicgor, meaning "spacious"; and din or dun, meaning "fort" (Irish: dún, Scottish: dùn, Welsh: dun, din).[3]
However, it is also possible that the Scottish surname originated from a place name in Normandy, France, and was brought over to Scotland, where it gave rise to the place name in Berwickshire.[1] For example, the English surname Gordon is considered to be derived from
Gourdon in
Saône-et-Loire,
France.[3] Early records of this surname occur in England in the early 13th century (such as Adam de Gurdon, in 1204).[2] This French place name is derived from the
Gallo-Romanpersonal nameGordus and the
locativesuffix-o, -onis.[3]
The given name is thought to have been used in honour of Major-General
Charles George Gordon (1833–85), who was killed at
Khartoum.[1]
Variants, cognates
The masculine given name can be represented in
Scottish Gaelic as Gòrdan.[4]
The diminutives Gord or Gordie may also be used as a nickname.
List of people
Saint Gordon of Rome or
Saint Gordianus (d. 362), Roman saint martyred under Julian the Apostate
Gordon (slave) (fl. 1863), African-American slave and US Civil War soldier
Gordon Abbott (1914–1986), Australian rules footballer
This page or section lists people that share the same
given name. If an
internal link led you here, you may wish to change that link to point directly to the intended article.