Jordan Family Crest framed artprint - English origin | Family Crests

Celebrate your family heritage with a gift to cherish – the Jordan Family Crest framed and printed on museum-quality matte paper. Beautifully illustrated. Carefully researched. Uniquely personal.

From Crusader Legends to West Country Estates: The Resilient Legacy of the Jordan Crest

While the surname Jordan is recognized globally today, this striking coat of arms represents a powerful heritage of resilience that spans from the medieval Holy Land to the estates of western England and Ireland. This specific armorial design achieved its first permanent institutional registration in 1604, when royal heralds officially recorded it in their master archives for the prominent Jordan family branches established in County Somerset and Chittern Whistley, Wiltshire, England. From these English roots, branches of the family later migrated across the Irish Sea, where lineages like the Jordans of Rosslevin in County Mayo proudly preserved the exact same shield layout and motto as a definitive emblem of their enduring ancestral pride.

The symbolism of the Jordan family crest

This historic coat of arms features a vibrant blue shield displaying a majestic gold lion shown in a fierce, upright rearing posture, surrounded symmetrically by eight gold cross-crosslets. To ensure the imagery is easily understood by everyday viewers, the individual components and colors carry deep symbolic weight rooted in classical history. The rich blue background serves as a traditional symbol of truth, loyalty, and steadfast vigilance, while the brilliant gold elements signify generosity, nobility, and an elevation of mind. The rearing lion is a premier symbol of majestic courage, unmatched strength, and natural leadership, indicating that the original bearers were protectors of their people.

The eight gold crosses surrounding the lion carry a deeply respected historical meaning, representing deep spiritual faith and the family's historical involvement in early military expeditions. This ties directly into a captivating, centuries-old backstory regarding the family motto displayed on the banner below, Percussa resurgo, which translates directly to "When struck down, I rise again." According to historical family lore, this motto was earned by an early Norman ancestor serving as a royal standard-bearer during the Crusades. In a chaotic battle near the River Jordan, the knight was violently unhorsed and struck down multiple times by adversaries, yet he repeatedly found his footing, raised the flag high, and rallied his forces to victory. Perched directly above the shield is the family crest, featuring a golden crown adorned with three flowing blue and gold feathers, a traditional mark of high military rank, dignity, and battlefield command.

The origin story of the Jordan name

The surname Jordan is a patronymic and baptismal name with ancient, sacred roots tied to the River Jordan in the Middle East. The name itself derives from the Hebrew verb Yarden, meaning "to descend" or "flow down." Following the early medieval Crusades, it became an incredibly popular practice for returning knights, soldiers, and pilgrims to bring back vials of water from the holy river to baptize their newborn children. As a result, the popular baptismal name Jordan or the Old French variant Jourdain rapidly transformed into a permanent, hereditary family surname across the British Isles during the 12th and 13th centuries. One of the earliest provable factual records of the surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of England in 1273, which documents multiple independent taxpayers established across Oxfordshire and Lincolnshire.

Over the centuries, several notable historical figures have carried this surname to immense cultural and historical prestige. Sir Joseph Jordan, who lived from 1603 to 1685, was a highly decorated English naval commander and Vice-Admiral who achieved massive renown for his strategic brilliance and bravery on the high seas during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. Around this same era, Thomas Jordan emerged as a celebrated English poet, actor, and playwright who became an influential cultural figure in London high society and was eventually appointed as the official poet for the City of London. In the 18th century, the name achieved ultimate artistic fame through Dorothea Jordan, an extraordinarily talented Irish-born actress who rose from humble beginnings to become the most celebrated comic performer of her generation on the stages of London and Dublin.

About the artist

Each crest featured on this site is a faithful reproduction of original artwork by heraldic artist Éamonn Breathnach. Éamonn’s designs are grounded in thorough research, drawing from the earliest available records across various heraldic archives. Noted for their elegance and precision, these pieces serve as thoughtful gifts ideal for family and friends on any occasion.

Product details

• Printed with environmentally friendly water-based inks.
• Framed with .75″ (1.9 cm) thick Ayous wood sourced from renewable forests.
• Paper thickness: 10.3 mil (0.26 mm)
• Paper weight: 189 g/m²
• Protected by a durable Acrylite front panel.
• Includes hanging hardware for easy display.

No Warehouses. No Waste. Just for you, made to order.

This product is printed especially for you when ordered, one at a time, by royal decree of Mother Nature to keep the realm beautiful. Family Crests Store guarantees your custom treasure meets all EU and USA safety standards.