Mardan was a brand owned by the C.G. Conn Corporation (Continental Music) which was used until the 1980s. The name was conceived by Dan Henkin and was a combination of Dan and his wife Mary's first names (Mary-Dan). The guitars & banjos were made in Japan, probably at Tokai Gakki where the Conn guitars were made.
Source: Conn Acoustic Guitars website (14 February 2018)
Source: Mardan catalog 1981