Gordon

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Gordon

Gender: Masculine
Language: English
Etymology:
Gordon comes from a Scottish surname meaning “Great Hill,” or “Fort.”

History:
Gordon originally a Scottish surname coming from a place name either in Berwickshire (probably) or Normandy (less likely). It began life as a first name during the 19th century, especially in honor of General Charles George Gordon (1833-1885) a British military hero.

Pronunciation: gor-dun.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Gordon Bottomley (1874-1948)
English poet and playwright.
Gordon Bunshaft (1909-1990)
American architect.
Gordon Parks (1912-)
American photographer.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Gordon F. Ekholm (1909-1987)
American anthropologist.
Gordon R. Willey (1913-)
American anthropologist.
Gordon Childe (1931-1991)
Australian archaeologist.

Miscellaneous:
Sir Gordon Richards (1904-1986)
English jockey.
Gordon Arnold Lonsdale (Konon Molody) (1924-1970)
Soviet spy.

Political Figures:
Gordon Heward (1870-1943)
English lord chief justice.
Gordon Brown (1951-)
British chancellor of the Exchequer.

Scientists:
Gordon McKay (1821-1903)
American inventor.
Gordon W. Allport (1897-1967)
American physiologist.
Gordon Gould (1920-)
American physicist.

Singers and Entertainers:
Gordon William Lillie (Pawnee Bill) (1860-1942)
Traveling entertainer.
Sting (Gordon Sumner) (1951-)
English singer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.104 % named Gordon

Popularity of Gordon:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 122nd most popular.
1910-1920: 92nd most popular.
1920-1930: 81st most popular.
1930-1940: 79th most popular.
1940-1950: 107th most popular.
1950-1960: 135th most popular.
1960-1970: 185th most popular.
1970-1980: 281st most popular.
1980-1990: 368th most popular.
1990: 480th most popular.
1991: 500th most popular.
1992: 509th most popular.
1993: 519th most popular.
1994: 561st most popular.
1995: 546th most popular.
1996: 555th most popular.
1997: 605th most popular.
1998: 629th most popular.
1999: 659th most popular.
2000: 643rd most popular.
2001: 715th most popular.
2002: 680th most popular.
2003: 758th most popular.