Surname deGourdon - Meaning and Origin
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deGourdon: What does the surname deGourdon mean?
The last name deGourdon is derived from a French surname with origins in the northern region of Gourdon. This noble family of French descent was prominent in the 16th century. The deGourdon name is attributed to the commune of Gourdon in the Lot department in the former province of Quercy.
The deGourdon surname traces its ancestry to medieval times when people were known by their residence or place of origin. It appears that during the late Middle Ages, the deGourdon family adopted the name of the place they lived. The original family had noble origins and owned an estate in the commune of Gourdon, which in French means "large hill". It is believed that the first deGourdons were lords of Gourdon in the early 15th century.
The deGourdon surname is an occupational name, referring to a person who was a merchant in Gourdon. It is thought that the family was engaged in commerce and grew wealthy through successful trade.
The deGourdon name indicates that the family had roots in the old Quercy region and were of French origins. It is likely they bore the coat of arms of one of the first generations of the deGourdon family. The crest may be of a goblet with a Ducal coronet on top, crossed by a scimitar and a halberd, or bladed staff. This may symbolize the family's success in both peaceful and military endeavors.
Order DNA origin analysisdeGourdon: Where does the name deGourdon come from?
The last name deGourdon is found in many countries around the world today, including France, the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Areas with the highest concentrations of people with the surname deGourdon are found in France, primarily in central and southwestern regions. Records from the Middle Ages show it was commonly found within the area known as Poitou and Auvergne.
In the United States, deGourdon is a much rarer surname with fewer than 200 people carrying the name as of the latest census data. In Canada, there are fewer than 100, mostly found in Quebec and the Maritimes. Australia and the United Kingdom share similar numbers with only a handful of people sharing the same last name.
This suggests that the surname deGourdon is slowly reducing in prevalence, as it is no longer a particularly common last name. This could be due to intermarriage or a change in surname when migratory individuals or families moved to another country. Alternatively, it could also be due to the decreasing number of babies given the name deGourdon. Regardless, it is still found across the world today, and more people could take up the name if they have family ties to the region.
Variations of the surname deGourdon
The surname deGourdon is of French origin and is believed to be derived from the old French words de (from) and gourdon (pigeon). Variations and other spellings of deGourdon include de Gourdon, Degourdon, Gourdon, Gourdonne, Gourdain, Giurdain, Giordain, Guirdon and Giurdon.
The surname deGourdon is believed to be related to several other surnames, such as Gordon, Gourdine, Goudin and Giurdan. It is thought that the Gordon and Gourdine clan may be descended from the same ancestral house with deGourdon.
The Gordon and Goudin variants may have emerged due to the influence of Celtic dialects, which began to be pronounced differently over time, leading to alternate spellings.
The deGourdon surname has been found in the archives of various regions of France dating back to the Middle Ages, particularly in Normandy and Picardy. The deGourdons were even present in the court of the medieval ruler Richard I of Normandy and they played a role in the development of the Norman principality in the 11th century.
Other surnames derived from the same French root word, gourdon, include Gourd, Gourdeau, Gourdier and Gourdière. These surnames tend to be found in the French regions of Brittany and the Loire Valley.
It is likely that all of these surnames have a common ancestor, given their shared French origin and similar phonetic spelling. Due to their common etymological root, these surnames are often used interchangeably throughout France.
Famous people with the name deGourdon
- Stéphanie deGourdon : French businessperson and Director of Administration at Axen Sources.
- Lord Sébastien deGourdon : Member of British House of Lords and respected personality in the Aristocratic world.
- Guillaume deGourdon : French Artist and designer.
- Philippe deGourdon : Former Prime Minister of France and President of the European Commission from 1995 to 1999.
- Martial deGourdon : French entrepreneur and founder of the luxury skincare brand ALAGEN.
- André deGourdon : French engineer and founder of NIKEA Group.
- Catherine deGourdon : French architect and former President of ENPC (École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées).
- Pierre deGourdon : Major French real estate developer and co-founder of ADAG.
- Christophe deGourdon : French entrepreneur and founder of a venture capital firm BLOOM.
- Jean deGourdon : French actor best known for his roles in "The Taste of Life" and "The Sword of Magic".