Jordan family crest

 

Jordan family crest

Colors on the Jordan family crest explained

Argent (silver) - is a symbol of peacefulness and sincerity, two things the Jordans were known for.

Gules (red) - represents martyrdom and the historic military strength of the Jordans when called upon.

Or (Gold) - symbolizes the historical generosity of this ancient family.

 

  Symbols on the Jordan family crest explained 

The lion - represents ferociousness, bravery and valour, one of the most desirable family crest symbols.  

The eight crosses - symbolize Christ's rise from the dead to claim victory over sin. A connection to the family's early religious associations.

 

Click to purchase this family crest or browse other family crest offers.

 

Origins of the Jordan family name

The Jodan family can claim its noble origins in England.

However, the earliest known origin of the family name Jordan is from the Hebrew name ירדן (Yarden), meaning "descending" or " flowing down".

The name was first used to refer to the Jordan River, which flows from the Sea of Galilee down to the Dead Sea.

It is also the name of a mountain in Israel.

 

For a more detailed history, see our crest & history products

 

Summary of the Jordan family and the Jordan family crest

  • While the meaning of the name Jordan stems from Israel, the Jordan family name is of English origin in its use. 
  • The family name Jordan is thought to have originated in the 12th century, but given it is derived from another name in Israel, it is feasibly one of the oldest surnames in the world.
  • The first record of the Jordan family in England is of Jordan de Sancto Albano, who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1176.
  • Jordan de Sancto Albano was a Norman nobleman who had been granted lands in Hampshire by King Henry II.
  • The Jordan family name was also commonly found in Worcestershire where they held a family seat from very ancient times.
  • The Jordan family continued to hold their lands in Hampshire for several centuries.
  • The Jordan family became even more prominent in the late 14th century when Sir Robert Jordan was appointed as the High Sheriff of Hampshire.
  • Sir Robert Jordan was a loyal supporter of King Henry IV and served in the king's army during the Hundred Years' War.
  • The Jordan family's prominence in Hampshire continued into the Tudor period.
  • However, the Jordan family's fortunes declined in the late 16th century, however, after Sir Thomas Jordan's grandson, Sir Edward Jordan, was implicated in the plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I.
  • Sir Edward Jordan was sentenced to death and his lands were confiscated by the Crown.
  • The Jordan family name remained common in Hampshire throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. However, the family's fortunes never recovered to the levels they once were.
  • The first Jordan in America was William Jordan, who arrived in Virginia in 1622. William Jordan was probably born in England in 1598.
  • He married Anne Barker in 1620, and they had four children together. Anne Barker Jordan died in 1634, and William Jordan remarried a woman named Elizabeth. They had three children together. William Jordan died in 1643.