What does the surname Gordon mean?
+
From the lands of Gordon in Berwickshire, granted to Adam, ancestor of the family, in the 12th century. The name is of disputed origin, possibly from Welsh 'gor dun' (great fort) or a Gaelic personal name. The Gordons originated in Berwickshire in the 12th century but rose to greatness in the north-east, taking the lands of Strathbogie in the 14th century, later known as Huntly.
Where does the Gordon family come from?
+
The Gordon family is rooted in Grampian & the North-East, in Scotland. Within that, the name was particularly concentrated in Buchan & Mar. The atlas page for the name records the historical territory it has held over the centuries.
Is Gordon a Scotland surname?
+
Yes, Gordon is a Scotland surname. Its editorial home in this atlas is Scotland, where the historical territory and family record of the name are concentrated.
How old is the Gordon surname?
+
The Gordons originated in Berwickshire in the 12th century but rose to greatness in the north-east, taking the lands of Strathbogie in the 14th century, later known as Huntly. European hereditary surnames crystallised broadly between the 12th and 14th centuries, and the Gordon name took its modern form within that long settlement.
What is the Gordon family known for?
+
The Cocks of the North, Earls and Dukes of Aberdeenshire. The Gordons originated in Berwickshire in the 12th century but rose to greatness in the north-east, taking the lands of Strathbogie in the 14th century, later known as Huntly.
What is the Gordon motto?
+
The motto of the Gordon family is "Bydand", which translates as "Remaining (steadfast)". Family mottoes were registered with the chief of the name and carried on the heraldic arms and battle-banners.
What does "Bydand" mean in English?
+
"Bydand" is the motto of the Gordon family. In English it means "Remaining (steadfast)". The phrase is typically rendered in Latin, though some Highland families carry their motto in Gaelic and some Norman lines in Old French.
Who is the most famous Gordon?
+
The best-known bearer of the Gordon name is George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly. Other prominent figures of the family include Jane, Duchess of Gordon and Lord George Gordon (1751–1793), president of the Protestant Association.
Who are some famous Gordons?
+
Notable bearers of the Gordon name include George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly, Jane, Duchess of Gordon and Lord George Gordon (1751–1793), president of the Protestant Association. Each is profiled on the family page, with cross-links to the geography, stories, and historical events tied to their life.
What stories are told about the Gordon family?
+
The Gordon family is associated with Lord George Gordon and the Riots. Each story has its own page on this site with the full account, the date, the location, and the other families involved.
What is the story of Lord George Gordon and the Riots?
+
On the second of June 1780, Lord George Gordon, third son of the third Duke of Gordon, twenty-eight years old, member of Parliament for Ludgershall and president of the Protestant Association, led a procession of about fifty thousand petitioners through Westminster to present a petition to the House of Commons calling for the repeal of the Catholic Relief Act of 1778. The procession became, within a few hours of the petition being received, the worst civil disorder in London's recorded history. The event is dated to 1780.
Where is the Gordon surname found today?
+
Scotland is the primary historical home of the Gordon surname. In the modern era, the name is also borne across the wider diaspora, particularly in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where families carry the line of descent from the same Scotland origin recorded on this page.
What does the Clan Rising page for the Gordon family cover?
+
The Clan Rising page for the Gordon family covers the meaning of the surname, the historical geography of the name, the family motto, famous bearers of the name, traditional stories and the seat of the head of the family. Each section is linked to the underlying atlas of Scotland so the name can be read in the geography that shaped it.
Who is the head of the Gordon family today?
+
The seat for the head of the Gordon family is currently vacant on this register. Clan Rising is rebuilding the chief and family structure for the modern era, and the family page allows readers to claim the seat or pledge to the name.