Surname Gurdon - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Gurdon: What does the surname Gurdon mean?
The surname Gurdon is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to be derived from an old personal name, "Gyrth" or "Garth," which means "enclosed yard" or "garden" in Old English. The suffix "dun" in the name translates to "hill". Thus, "Gurdon" could mean "hill garden" or "garden hill". This name suggests that the original bearers of this surname likely lived near or were associated with such a geographical feature. This type of surname is called a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or a type of tree. It first originated from Suffolk and Essex in England. Variations of the name include Gurden, Gerdon, and Girdon, among others. It is less commonly used as a first name. The notable bearers of this surname include Sir John Gurdon (British politician), John Gurdon (colonial governor), and Sir John Gurdon (an English landowner and Whig politician).
Order DNA origin analysisGurdon: Where does the name Gurdon come from?
The surname Gurdon is of Anglo-Saxon origin, specifically from England, and it is believed to have first been used during the Middle Ages. It is considered a locational surname, derived from a place name. There is a village named 'Gurdon' in Norfolk, England, which might be the likely source.
However, the exact meaning of the surname is not clearly known and varies based upon different interpretations. Some suggest "Gurdon" derives from Old English words ‘gor’ meaning mud and ‘dun’ meaning hill, thus it could mean 'muddy hill'.
Today, the Gurdon surname is not particularly common. It remains mostly confined to England, with some bearers of the name found in the United States and other parts of the English-speaking world due to migration. Some of the most noted individuals with this surname, such as Sir John Gurdon, a Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, are from the United Kingdom. Despite its rarity, this surname has a history dating back several centuries in England and continues to be borne by several dozen individuals, particularly in its area of origin.
Variations of the surname Gurdon
The surname Gurdon seems to have a unique spelling and is not widely common. It's of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a locational surname for someone who was from Garthorne in Suffolk. The surname has been around since the early 13th century.
Different branches of the family might have adapted different spellings over centuries and in different countries. Possible variants can be Gurdan, Gourdon, Gorden, Gordon, etc. but this can't be stated with certainty. Surnames evolved over time and were often written phonetically, hence a wide variety of spelling variations exist in ancient manuscripts that contain examples of this surname.
Finding the variants of this surname can be a bit tricky as changes in spelling were often not recorded officially. Many factors influenced the spelling of a surname and what might seem like a variant might in fact be a completely separate family line. Therefore, it is crucial to research each possible variant to establish the correct lineage. Always keep in mind that surname origin research is not an exact science and results may vary.
Famous people with the name Gurdon
- William Gurdon Saltonstall: American politician about whom an ancestry article was made
- J. W. Gurdon: British author and amateur naturalist
- Christopher Gurdon: British journalist, author, television director and producer
- Sir William Gurdon: British civil servant and commissioner of the turnpike roads
- John Gurdon: British biologist and Nobel Prize Winner
- Samuel Gurdon: British colonial administrator
- Jean Gurdon: Canadian academic, public policy expert, and diplomat
- John Gurdon Cheape: British soldier and member of the Royal Scots Greys
- Henry Gurdon Marquand: 19th century American philanthropist
- Philip Gurdon Hubbard: American civil engineer and creator of the world’s first underground rapid transit system