Gordon

The first Gordon on record is Richard of Gordon, previously of Swinton, said to have been the grandson of a famous knight who slew some monstrous animal in the Merse during the time of King Malcolm III of Scotland. This Richard was Lord of the Barony of Gordon in the Merse. The name is said to derive from Brittonic, meaning great fort. The de Gordons held the lairdship of Gordon for over two centuries and were thought to have built a castle at the former hamlet of Huntly just to the north; they still held lands up to the 18th century. The Gordon family are the ancestors of the Dukes of Richmond and Gordon and of the Marquis of Huntly.

Modern Gordon has a Church of Scotland kirk, a nursery, a primary school, a lawn bowling club, a football pitch, a community woodland, children's play park, village hall, a public house/restaurant and village shop/takeaway. The main street has not changed for many years though there has been much housing development at the north end of the village off Station Road.