Riordan

Not to be confused with O'Riordan.

Riordan is a surname of Irish origin; Rearden is a variant of it. From ri “king” and bardan “poet”, it means “royal poet.” In Irish tradition, the poet was very highly regarded in any royal household, as he acted as scholar, historian and advisor to the king.

It may refer to:

Persons

• Ann Fienup-Riordan (born 1948), American cultural anthropologist
• Bill Riordan (1908–1973), Australian politician from Queensland; minister for the navy 1946–1949
• Daniel J. Riordan (1870–1923), American politician from New York; U.S. representative 1899–1923
• Daniel Riordan (born 1984), Irish professional rugby union player
• Daniel Riordan (contemporary), American voice actor
• Darby Riordan (1888–1936), Australian politician from Queensland; member of the House of Representatives 1929–36
• Derek Riordan (born 1983), Scottish professional football player
• James Fergus Riordan (born 1997), Spanish actor
• James Riordan (1936–2012), English novelist, broadcaster, sports historian, association football player and Russian scholar
• Joe Riordan (born 1930), Australian politician and government minister
• John Riordan (banker), American banker who rescued 105 South Vietnamese
• John Riordan (mathematician) (1903–1988), American mathematician and author
• Linda Riordan (born 1953), British politician; MP from Halifax since 2005
• Maurice Riordan (born 1953), Irish poet, translator, and editor
• Michael Riordan (1889–1967), Irish-American police officer; chief of police of San Francisco, California
• Michael H. Riordan (born 1951), American economics professor
• Michael L. Riordan (born 1957), the founder and CEO/Chairman (1987-1997) of biotechnology company Gilead Sciences
• Mike Riordan (born 1945), American professional basketball player
• Pat Riordan (born 1979), Canadian rugby union player
• Patrick William Riordan (1841–1914), American Roman Catholic archbishop
• Paul F. Riordan (1920–1944), American army officer; recipient of the Medal of Honor
• Richard Riordan (born 1930), American politician from California; mayor of Los Angeles 1993–2001
• Richard Riordan (Australian politician), Australian politician
• Rick Riordan (born 1964), American author
• Steva Riordan (1876-after 1908), Irish hurler
• Terry Riordan (born 1973), American professional lacrosse player
• Tim Riordan (born 1960), American football player

Fictional characters

• Dallas Riordan, character in the Marvel Comics universe.
• Nita Riordan, character in Louis L'Amour's Kilkenny books.

Television

The Riordans was a soap opera that ran on Radio Telefís Éireann (Irish television) during the 1960s and 1970s.