Gordon is a traditional Scottish clan name (see Gordon clan ) and it is now a common forename. It became a popular forename after the death of General Charles George 'Chinese' Gordon at the Battle of Khartoum . Many American Gordons can trace their family tree to Alexander Gordon, b 1635 in Aberdeen, Scotland. He was transported to the New World as a prisoner of war, and settled in Exeter, New Hampshire after gaining his freedon from forced servitude. The main resource for this huge branch of the Gordon Clan is J.W. Gordon's genealogy website: http://www.gordonsofmaine.com Another famous Gordon is Adam Lindsay Gordon (1833-1870) who became National Poet of Australia. In Melbourne, Australia there is a square outside the Parliament House named Gordon Square with two bronze statues to the two great Gordons, Adam Lindsay and Charles George. Patrick Gordon (1635-1699) was a Russian Rear Admiral of a Scottish descent. George Gordon (1806-1879) was a noted botanist.

The origin on the Gordon family in Scotland was not Gaelic. This is best described by H. Potter in his book, "Blood Feud". Although the Gordon family in Scotland rose to become the predominant power in the northeast of Scotland they were not natives to that part or indeed to Scotland, and had a feudal rather than a Gaelic origin. Of Norman descent, they were one of many families welcomed into his kingdom by David I. By the early twelfth century they had settled in the village and estates of Gordon, near Kelso in the Scottish Borders under the protection of their kinsman, the Earl of Dunbar." Because the Gordon family did not start as a "clan", it is often referred to as the House of Gordon, a name more tied to its Norman descent. While the family organization in Scotland calls itself the "House of Gordon", most publications use the more common "Clan Gordon" as does the book "Scottish Clan and Family Encyclopedia" considered the authority.

Some Gordons claim to be Clan Gordon while others House of Gordon out of personal preference or bias. While Clan Gordon is certainly the most common term used, both Clan and House are truly synonymous and either term is proper. Hence our use of both House of Gordon and Clan Gordon.

Sept surnames for the House of Gordon are Adam, Adamson, Addie, Adie, Addison, Aiken, Aitchison, Atkin, Atkins, Atkinson, Badenoch, Barrie, Connor, Connon, Craig, Cromb, Crombie, Cullen, Culane, Darg, Darge, Dorward, Duff, Durward, Eadie, Eddie, Edie, Edison, Esslemont, Garden, Gardiner, Gardner, Garioch, Garrick, Garroick, Geddes, Gerrie, Harrison, Huntley, Huntly, Jessiman, Jopp, Jupp, Laing, Lang, Laurie, Lawrie, Leng, Ling, MacAdam, Mallett, Manteach, Marr, Maver, Meldrum, Mill, Mills, Milles, Miln, Milne, Milner, More, Morrice, Muir, Mylne, Steel, Teal, Tod, Todd, and Troup

• Gordon is also the name of several places in the United States of America:
  • Gordon, Alabama
  • Gordon, Georgia
  • Gordon, Nebraska
  • Gordon, Ohio
  • Gordon, Pennsylvania
  • Gordon, Texas
  • Gordon, Wisconsin (two places):
    • in Ashland County
    • in Douglas County
  • Gordon County, Georgia
  • Gordon Township, Minnesota
  • Gordon Heights, New York
• Gordon is also the name of a place, and a river in Australia:
  • Gordon, New South Wales (a suburb of Sydney)
  • The Gordon River is a river in Tasmania, Australia
• Gordon is also the name of a character on the popular children's educational television program Sesame Street
• Gordon is engine number 4 in the Thomas the Tank Engine series.
• Gordon is the name of the first album by the Canadian pop band Barenaked Ladies.