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Jordan Family History

Jordan Surname Meaning

English German French (mainly Alsace and Haute-Savoie) Polish Czech and Slovenian; Spanish and Hungarian (Jordán): from the Christian personal name or nickname Jordan. This is taken from the name of the river Jordan (Hebrew Yarden a derivative of yarad ‘to go down’ i.e. to the Dead Sea). At the time of the Crusades it was a common practice for crusaders and pilgrims to bring back flasks of water from the river in which John the Baptist had baptized people including Christ himself and to use it in the christening of their own children. As a result Jordan became quite a common personal name.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Bogdan, Dorman, Jorden, Gordon, Lordan, Norden, Orban, Jourdan

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Jordan family from?

You can see how Jordan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Jordan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Jordan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 232 Jordan families living in Maine. This was about 19% of all the recorded Jordan's in USA. Maine had the highest population of Jordan families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Jordan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Jordan ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Jordan. 18% of Jordan men worked as a Laborer and 7% of Jordan women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Jordan were Truck Driver and Cook. .

View Census Data for Jordan | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    18%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Salesman
    4%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    7%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Housewife
    6%
  • Cook
    5%
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What Jordan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 850,000 census records available for the last name Jordan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Jordan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 84,000 immigration records available for the last name Jordan. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 192,000 military records available for the last name Jordan. For the veterans among your Jordan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Jordan lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Jordan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1941, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Jordan in 1940 was 41, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Jordan

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