Meaning & History
Örjan is an old Swedish male name, a medieval form of Jurian, which itself is a Low German variant of George. The name ultimately derives from the Greek Georgios, meaning "farmer" or "earthworker," from ge (earth) and ergon (work).
In medieval Sweden, Örjan was the common vernacular form of the name. The saint known elsewhere as St. George was called Sankt Örjan or Riddar Örjan (Knight Örjan). The spelling later evolved to Göran and Jöran during the 16th century, and the original form became rarer. The name experienced a brief revival in the mid-20th century.
According to Wikipedia, over 3,000 men in Sweden bear the first name Örjan. The name is primarily used in Sweden and Norway, with about 41 men in Finland given the name from 1920 to 2008. Name day is July 9 in Sweden.
The name is closely related to other Scandinavian forms, including Göran, Jöran, Georg, and Jörgen. The Norwegian variant is Ørjan. Surname descendants include Göransson.
- Meaning: Farmer, earthworker (from Greek Georgios)
- Origin: Low German, via Medieval Swedish
- Type: First name (male)
- Usage Regions: Sweden, Norway
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Örjan