Surname Riordon - Meaning and Origin

Riordon: What does the surname Riordon mean?

The last name Riordon is an Irish surname that may have a few possible origins. It could come from the Gaelic personal name "Rioghbhardan", meaning royal bard, which indicates someone who was a bard or a storyteller for the king. Also, it could be derived from the ancient pre-10th century Gaelic name O'Rioghbhardain, which was composed of the elements "O" denoting male descendant of, and "Rioghbhardan", a personal name meaning royal bard. Hence, this surname would mean "descendant of the royal bard". However, like many original Gaelic names, it has been anglicized over the centuries into several spellings such as Riordan, Reardan, Rearden, and its variations. These surnames are especially associated with County Cork in Ireland. Names with such occupational origins were originally bestowed in honor of the original bearer’s profession or characteristics. Please remember surnames' meanings and origins may differ depending on historical and family context.

Riordon: Where does the name Riordon come from?

The last name Riordon is most commonly found in Ireland today. It is believed the name is derived from the Gaelic O'Ruairc or O'Riagáin and dates back to the medieval period.

Riordon is most commonly found in the province of Leinster, where it is the 115th most common surname, especially in counties Dublin, Laois and Kildare. The name is also prevalent in Mainland Britain, particularly in England and Scotland, where it ranks among the top 350 last names in both countries.

Riordon also makes up a large proportion of the Irish diaspora with large populations in Australia, the United States, Canada and New Zealand. In the United States, it is the 1,921st most common surname and accounts for 0.001% of the population, with the greatest concentration being primarily centered in Maine, Arizona, New York and Texas.

Even today, the Riordon name has endured in Ireland for centuries and spread throughout the world, carried on its centuries-old, illustrious heritage.

Variations of the surname Riordon

The surname Riordon is an anglicized variation of the Irish surname Ó Riordáin. This name contains elements derived from the words "rí" which means "king" and "dúin" which means "fort." It originated in County Tipperary in the south of Ireland and was originally given to the descendants of a 12th century warrior who was the appointed guardian of the local fort.

Variations of this surname include Riorden, Riordan, Rioradn, Rioran, Riordain, Reardon, Rardin, Raurdan, O'Riordan, O'Reardon, O'Rardin, and Roarain. Spellings for the surname Riordon include Ryorden, Rirden, Ryurden, Ryuden, Ryarden, Ryordan, Ryrdan, Reirdan, Rhirden, Rirdon, and Reurdon.

The O' prefix is a sign of an ancient Gaelic clan whose ancestor was a warrior or nobleman. O'Riordan was a clan name of a minor sept of the O'Briens, who were powerful and influential kings in the south of Ireland during the 12th century.

Common surnames of the same origin include O'Rafferty, O'Flaherty, O'Kelly, O'Sullivan, O'Neill, O'Loughlin, O'Halloran, O'Connor, O'Mahony, O'Dwyer, and O'Connor.

Though the newly adopted surname Riordon is now very popular, the original ancient family name of Ó Riordáin remains with numerous diverse variations.

Famous people with the name Riordon

• Robert Riordon: American former tennis player, coach, and sport administrator who was a leading figure in tennis from the late 1940s to the 1960s.
• Patrick Riordon: American former professional ice hockey player who played in 12 NHL games for the New York Rangers in the 1930s.
• Patrick Riordon O.P.: A Dominican Friar from Ireland known for being a significant figure in popularizing the Rosary devotion.
• Martin Riordon: Canadian business executive who served as chief executive officer of AECL Technologies from 2007 to 2011.
• Deirdre Riordon: Irish artist, sculptor, and model who’s work has primarily focused on the reclamation of histories of rural Irish life in a contemporary context.
• Mary Riordon: US poet and author whose work has been featured in many magazines; her specialties include travel writing and memoir.
• Jack Riordon: Irish Gaelic footballer who played for the Kerry Minor Football team in the early 2010s.
• Joe Riordon: British stuntman, actor, and filmmaker, best known for his stunt work in Game Night and Tomb Raider franchises.
• Sean Riordon: Canadian ice hockey player who currently plays for the ECHL's Kansas City Mavericks.
• Pat Riordon: American former All-American athlete who was a member of the Millersville Unversity track and field teams in the late 1960s.

Other surnames

Riordan