NameCensus.

UK surname

Durance

A place name referring to the River Durance in southern France.

In the 1881 census there were 172 people recorded with the Durance surname, ranking it #14,163 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, down from #14,163 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Marske and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Norwich and Harrogate.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Durance is 212 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.2%.

1881 census count

172

Ranked #14,163

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

1911

212 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Durance had 172 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,163 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 212 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Durance surname distribution map

The map shows where the Durance surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Durance surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Durance over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 113 #15,815
1861 historical 90 #22,312
1881 historical 172 #14,163
1891 historical 169 #16,885
1901 historical 206 #14,845
1911 historical 212 #14,423
1997 modern 159 #20,339
1998 modern 155 #21,227
1999 modern 153 #21,551
2000 modern 163 #20,657
2001 modern 161 #20,543
2002 modern 160 #21,011
2003 modern 156 #21,115
2004 modern 163 #20,685
2005 modern 149 #21,866
2006 modern 149 #22,013
2007 modern 149 #22,318
2008 modern 152 #22,225
2009 modern 155 #22,438
2010 modern 156 #22,886
2011 modern 159 #22,382
2012 modern 147 #23,567
2013 modern 149 #23,765
2014 modern 144 #24,504
2015 modern 143 #24,481
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

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Where Durances are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Marske, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Frisby-on-the-Wreak and Barkstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, Norwich, Harrogate, Newark and Sherwood and Leicester. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 Marske Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
4 Frisby-on-the-Wreak Leicestershire
5 Barkstone Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 006 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Norwich 005 Norwich
3 Harrogate 018 Harrogate
4 Newark and Sherwood 008 Newark and Sherwood
5 Leicester 020 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Durance

These lists show first names that appear often with the Durance surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Durance

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Durance, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Durance surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Durance household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Durance is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Durance is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Durance falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Durance is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Durance, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Durance

The surname Durance is of French origin, derived from the name of the river Durance, which flows through southeastern France. This surname emerged in the Middle Ages, likely in the regions around the Durance River, such as Provence and Dauphiné.

The name Durance itself is believed to have its roots in the Gaulish language, which was spoken in ancient Gaul before the Roman conquest. The river's original name may have been derived from a Gaulish word meaning "to flow" or "to run," reflecting its swift and powerful current.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Durance can be found in the Cartulaire de Saint-Victor de Marseille, a cartulary (collection of charters) from the 11th century. This document mentions a certain Petrus de Durancia, indicating the presence of the surname in the region around that time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name Durance was Bertrand Durance, a French troubadour and poet from Provence. His works, written in the Occitan language, provide valuable insights into the culture and literature of the time.

During the 14th century, the name Durance appeared in various records, including the Livre des Hommages (Book of Homages) from the County of Provence. This document mentions several individuals with the surname, such as Raymundus Durance and Guillelmus Durance, suggesting the name's widespread use in the region.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure with the surname Durance was Jean Durance, a French jurist and legal scholar. Born in 1508 in Aix-en-Provence, he authored several influential works on French law and served as a judge in the Parlement of Provence.

Another notable individual was Claude Durance, a French priest and historian who lived in the 17th century. Born in 1633 in Marseille, he wrote extensively on the history of Provence, including the influential work "Histoire de Provence" (History of Provence).

In the 19th century, the surname Durance was carried by César Durance, a French painter born in 1840 in Marseille. He was known for his landscapes and seascapes depicting the picturesque regions of southern France.

While the surname Durance may have its origins in a specific geographic area, over time, it has spread to various parts of France and beyond, carried by individuals and families as they migrated or relocated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Durance families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Durance surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Leicestershire leads with 57 Durances recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.00x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 57 31.00x
Yorkshire 28 1.70x
Lincolnshire 23 8.68x
Middlesex 12 0.72x
Surrey 11 1.36x
Derbyshire 9 3.47x
Nottinghamshire 6 2.68x
Staffordshire 6 1.07x
Worcestershire 6 2.77x
Kent 4 0.71x
Northamptonshire 3 1.92x
Lancashire 2 0.10x
Glamorgan 1 0.35x
Hampshire 1 0.29x
Rutland 1 8.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 22 Durances recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.07x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 22 49.07x
Melton Mowbray 15 453.17x
Marske In Guisbrough 14 479.45x
Bermondsey 11 22.28x
Ilkeston 9 123.63x
Leicester All Sts 9 249.31x
St Peterat Arches 9 3000.00x
Burton Upon Trent 6 45.80x
Islington London 6 3.73x
Kidderminster Borough 6 47.36x
Stamford All Sts 6 405.41x
Cotham 5 7142.86x
Dewsbury 5 29.67x
Leicester St Nicholas 5 480.77x
Hipperholme Cum 4 55.40x
Canterbury St Paul 3 294.12x
Frisby On The Wreake 3 1363.64x
Great Gonerby 3 441.18x
Shoreditch London 3 4.17x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 3 80.43x
Scarborough 2 13.40x
Westminster St John 2 9.91x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.39x
Blaengwrach 1 666.67x
Buckminster 1 714.29x
Canterbury St Mary 1 26.32x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 3.20x
Great Grimsby 1 5.94x
Guisbrough Tocketts 1 500.00x
Hawley 1 156.25x
Ketton 1 158.73x
Leicester St Mary 1 6.73x
Morley 1 11.71x
North Witham 1 714.29x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.73x
Oundle 1 57.47x
Pendleton In Salford 1 4.27x
Peterborough 1 8.86x
Pilsgate 1 1428.57x
Plungar 1 714.29x
Rotherham 1 10.80x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Durance surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Ann 8
Elizabeth 7
Sarah 7
Ellen 5
Mary 5
Eliza 4
Charlotte 3
Hannah 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Eliz. 2
Emma 2
Jane 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
Catherine 1
Cathrine 1
Cordelia 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth.Rebecca 1
Esther 1
Eveland 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Kathleen 1
Lilley 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Lizza 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Maud 1
Milame 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Rosetta 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Durance surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 12
John 9
Charles 7
Henry 5
James 5
Joseph 5
George 4
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Isaac 2
Robert 2
Burty 1
Chas. 1
Chas.Wm. 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frederich 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Josh.Edwd. 1
Levi 1

FAQ

Durance surname: questions and answers

How common was the Durance surname in 1881?

In 1881, 172 people were recorded with the Durance surname. That placed it at #14,163 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Durance surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Durance a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Durance surname mean?

A place name referring to the River Durance in southern France.

What does the Durance map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Durance bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.