Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• pastur' byestechurdon, Churdoneslade 1452 Ct

• (pastur' super) Churdon 1472–1490 Weld1 1481 MinAcct

• furlong' voc' Cherdo(u)n, Cherdo(u)nslade 1461 Rent

• Yordon 1496–1503 Weld1

• Jurdayn(y)s 1525,1529 ib

• Jordayne 1531 ib

• hill called Jorden 1617 WeyR

• Jurdens 1635 Weld1

• Jordens farme l17 ib

• Jordan Beach, Jordan Cliff, Jordan Hill 1838 TA

Etymology

Jordan Hill (SY 700822), Jordan Ho, pastur ' byestechurdon , Churdoneslade 1452Ct , (pastur ' super ) Churdon 1472–1490Weld 1, 1481MinAcct , furlong ' voc ' Cherdo (u )n , Cherdo (u )nslade 1461Rent , Yordon 1496–1503Weld 1, Jurdayn (y )s 1525, 1529ib , Jordayne 1531ib , hill called Jorden 1617 WeyR, Jurdens 1635Weld 1, Jordens farme l17ib , Jordan Beach , Jordan Cliff , Jordan Hill 1838TA , also giving name to R. Jordan (RNs. infra ). The second el. is dūn 'hill'; the first is probably cerr (WSax  cierr) 'a turn, a bend', with reference to the course taken by R. Jordan as it rounds the E side of the hill. It is possible that Chur or Cher from c(i)err was an earlier name for the river itself, in which case the name Jordan may mean 'hill on R. Chur or Cher ' rather than 'hill at the bend', cf. DEPN s.n. Chirdon Nb. Byeste - is 'to the east of', v. bī , ēastan , -slade is slæd 'valley'. Later forms of the name show association with the pers.n. and surname Jordan , itself taken from the river of that name in the Middle East.