Surname Gordy - Meaning and Origin
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Gordy: What does the surname Gordy mean?
The last name Gordy is of English origin and it is derived from the personal name Gordian, which in turn is created from the Roman family name Gordianus. Gordianus was borne by three 3rd-century saints and emperors. The name also has Germanic roots, deriving from the Old German personal name Godhard which translates to "brave" or "strong in God." The name Gordy has variations including Gourdey, Gorthy, Goordy, and many more. Despite its origins, the name is now most commonly associated with the USA, in large part due to Berry Gordy Jr., the founder of Motown Records. Hence, the surname Gordy may indicate a connection to historical figures, or an ancestral link to either English or German heritage. As with most surnames, the specific meaning can greatly depend on the family history and origin.
Order DNA origin analysisGordy: Where does the name Gordy come from?
The surname Gordy is of Scottish origin. It is derived from "Gordons," a clan based in the areas of Berwickshire and the Scottish Borders during the Middle Ages. The Gordons were involved in military and political affairs, and were a prominent part of Scottish history.
The surname was anglicized to Gordy over time, especially among those migrating to other English-speaking countries. Notably, Berry Gordy, an American record executive, carries this surname and founded the distinguished Motown record label. Hence, the Gordy surname has significant recognition in the USA, particularly in the music industry.
Presently, the surname Gordy is quite common in the United States. However, it is not as prevalent in other regions of the world. While there are individuals with the Gordy surname scattered globally, it is not considered a common surname outside the United States according to current global surname distribution data.
Variations of the surname Gordy
The surname Gordy may have different spellings and variants based on geographic region, phonetics, and transliteration among different languages. Some of these variations and related surnames might include Gordie, Gordi, Gourdy, Gordie, Gorda, Gordo, and Gorday.
The name is believed to have originated from Scotland, stemming from the personal name Gordon, taken from a place in Berwickshire. Some believe it could have originated from a Norman personal name Gordanus, which is derived from 'gor', meaning spacious, and 'don', a gift. Hence, we can also add Gordon, Gordan, and Gordano to the possible variants.
Surprisingly, this surname may also be connected with the Jewish surname Gurevitz or Gurovich, through the variant Gurevitch, a patronymic form from the male personal name 'Gurev'. This might be relevant in an Ashkenazi Jewish diaspora context.
In translation or transliteration into non-Latin scripts, different spellings may also appear; for example, in Cyrillic script, it might be spelled as Горди.
Keep in mind that surnames evolve over time due to migrations, cultural assimilation, and linguistic changes, so these are just potential variants. The true variants can be more thoroughly identified through genealogical research.
Famous people with the name Gordy
- Berry Gordy: An American record executive, songwriter, film producer, and television producer. He is best known as the founder of the Motown record label.
- Redfoo (Stefan Kendal Gordy): An American rapper, singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, and DJ best known as part of the musical duo LMFAO.
- Kerry Gordy: Berry Gordy's son, he is an entertainment industry executive known for his work in music, film, and television.
- Kennedy Gordy: Also known as Rockwell, is an American musician and singer-songfriend best known for the song "Somebody's Watching Me".
- Hazel Joy Gordy: The eldest daughter of Berry Gordy, she is mostly known for being Jermaine Jackson's ex-wife.
- Rhonda Ross Kendrick: An American actress, singer, and public speaker, also the eldest daughter of singer-actress Diana Ross and Berry Gordy.
- Terry James Gordy: An American professional wrestler, commonly known by his ring name, "Bam Bam" Gordy.
- Gordy Hoffman: An American screenwriter and director known as the founder of the BlueCat Screenplay Competition.
- Esther Gordy Edwards: An American businesswoman and songwriter, also the sister of Berry Gordy and founder of the Motown Historical Museum.