Gordon Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Gordon Family History

Gordon Family History

The ancient origin of the name Gordon was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. The name Gordon is usually originated with the clan who were of the Scottish lowlands. The Gordons are descended from Sir Adam Gordon, a peer of the famous William Wallace, and to whom Bruce granted the lands of Huntly. He fell at Halidon Hill in the year 1333. Alexander, third Earl of Huntly, fought at Flodden. George, sixth Earl, was created a Marquis in 1559. George, fourth Marquis, was made Duke of Gordon in 1684. The Dukedom lapsed in 1836 and the Marquisate went to the Earl of Aboyne. In Ireland the name Gordon is mostly found in Ulster Province having been introduced by settlers from Scotland but some members of the Gaelic Mag Mhuirneachain sept adopted Gordon as the anglicized form of their name, as well as the more usual MacGournahan and MacGourneson.The Gordon family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Gordon descendants.