NameCensus.

UK surname

Durant

A French occupational surname referring to someone who was hardy or enduring, or who lived near a stream.

In the 1881 census there were 1,028 people recorded with the Durant surname, ranking it #3,821 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,437, ranked #4,264, down from #3,821 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, London parishes and Rosliston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor, South Kesteven and Fareham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Durant is 1,474 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.8%.

1881 census count

1,028

Ranked #3,821

Modern count

1,437

2016, ranked #4,264

Peak year

2010

1,474 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Durant had 1,028 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,821 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,437 in 2016, ranked #4,264.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,310 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Durant surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Durant surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Durant 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 709 #3,681
1861 historical 659 #4,069
1881 historical 1,028 #3,821
1891 historical 1,095 #3,860
1901 historical 1,250 #3,961
1911 historical 1,310 #3,643
1997 modern 1,384 #4,179
1998 modern 1,440 #4,189
1999 modern 1,459 #4,173
2000 modern 1,447 #4,186
2001 modern 1,424 #4,162
2002 modern 1,444 #4,193
2003 modern 1,425 #4,162
2004 modern 1,442 #4,130
2005 modern 1,401 #4,188
2006 modern 1,403 #4,186
2007 modern 1,420 #4,184
2008 modern 1,428 #4,197
2009 modern 1,438 #4,243
2010 modern 1,474 #4,242
2011 modern 1,467 #4,212
2012 modern 1,422 #4,248
2013 modern 1,442 #4,273
2014 modern 1,458 #4,263
2015 modern 1,441 #4,265
2016 modern 1,437 #4,264

Geography

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Where Durants are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, London parishes and Rosliston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor, South Kesteven and Fareham. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 London parishes London 2
5 Rosliston Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 008 Sedgemoor
2 Sedgemoor 013 Sedgemoor
3 Sedgemoor 009 Sedgemoor
4 South Kesteven 002 South Kesteven
5 Fareham 008 Fareham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Durant

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Durant

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Durant, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Durant surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Durant household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Durant is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Durant is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Durant falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Durant 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 Durant, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Durant

The surname Durant is of Norman French origin, derived from the Old French word "Durant", which means "enduring" or "lasting". It is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone who was particularly strong or long-lived.

The name first appeared in the 11th century in Normandy, France, and was later introduced to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The earliest recorded example of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists a William Durant as a landowner in Gloucestershire.

In the 12th century, the name was prominent in the county of Somerset, England, where it was often associated with the place name "Duranteston" or "Durant's Town". One notable figure from this period was Ralph Durant, a wealthy landowner and benefactor of the abbey at Glastonbury in the late 12th century.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name spread across England and appeared in various spellings, such as Durand, Durrant, and Durance. In 1273, a John Durant was recorded as a merchant in the city of London, and in 1327, a Geoffrey Durant served as the Mayor of Bristol.

Throughout the centuries, the Durant name has been associated with numerous notable individuals. One of the most famous was Thomas Durant (1538-1617), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Christ Church, Oxford, and was known for his theological works.

Another notable figure was Sir John Durant (1619-1697), an English lawyer and politician who served as the Attorney General of England and Wales during the reign of King Charles II.

In the 19th century, the Durant name gained prominence in the United States, with William West Durant (1801-1859) becoming a prominent businessman and pioneer of the transcontinental railroad. His son, William C. Durant (1861-1947), was the co-founder of General Motors and played a significant role in the development of the American automobile industry.

Other notable individuals with the surname Durant include the American philosopher and writer Will Durant (1885-1981), known for his work "The Story of Civilization", and the British actress Abigail Durant (1985-present), who has appeared in various television shows and films.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Durant families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Durant 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. Middlesex leads with 175 Durants recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.72x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 175 1.72x
Surrey 120 2.43x
Yorkshire 82 0.81x
Derbyshire 76 4.78x
Lancashire 68 0.56x
Hampshire 56 2.69x
Staffordshire 54 1.58x
Warwickshire 39 1.52x
Kent 38 1.10x
Devon 36 1.70x
Lincolnshire 36 2.22x
Cornwall 26 2.26x
Essex 25 1.25x
Somerset 23 1.41x
Nottinghamshire 19 1.39x
Dorset 17 2.55x
Durham 15 0.50x
Channel Islands 14 4.65x
Hertfordshire 13 1.86x
Northamptonshire 9 0.94x
Gloucestershire 8 0.40x
Rutland 8 10.73x
Worcestershire 8 0.60x
Cheshire 6 0.27x
Huntingdonshire 6 2.98x
Northumberland 6 0.40x
Suffolk 6 0.49x
Sussex 6 0.35x
Ayrshire 5 0.66x
Berkshire 5 0.66x
Wiltshire 5 0.56x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.65x
Norfolk 4 0.26x
Shropshire 4 0.46x
Monmouthshire 3 0.41x
Renfrewshire 3 0.38x
Bedfordshire 2 0.38x
Glamorgan 2 0.11x
Leicestershire 2 0.18x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.11x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.16x
Cumberland 1 0.11x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Perthshire 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 0.83x
Stirlingshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 26 Durants recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.18x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 26 3.18x
Lambeth 24 2.71x
Rosliston 24 1500.00x
Portsea 23 5.64x
Camberwell 22 3.39x
Portchester 22 817.84x
Burton Upon Trent 17 21.20x
Bermondsey 16 5.29x
Litchurch 16 25.01x
Deptford St Paul 14 5.24x
Poplar London 14 7.30x
Normanton 13 42.99x
St Marylebone London 13 2.40x
Bedminster 12 7.81x
Bow London 12 9.28x
Islington London 12 1.22x
Barnsley 11 10.60x
Lullington 11 424.71x
West Ham 11 2.49x
Wonersh 11 178.28x
Bethnal Green London 10 2.27x
Bilston 10 15.05x
Shipley 10 19.15x
Birmingham 9 1.05x
Bridgewater 9 20.28x
Bromley London 9 4.03x
Liverpool 9 1.23x
Madron Penzance 9 21.53x
Mile End Old Town London 9 4.16x
Allington 8 695.65x
Bishopwearmouth 8 3.09x
Croydon 8 2.91x
Ecclesfield 8 10.84x
Lewisham 8 4.33x
Pendleton In Salford 8 5.57x
Shoreditch London 8 1.82x
Spetisbury 8 434.78x
Stratford On Avon 8 56.34x
Warwick St Mary 8 35.99x
Claines 7 19.24x
Crompton 7 20.40x
Epping 7 86.00x
Foston 7 564.52x
Hackney London 7 1.23x
Ince In Makerfield 7 12.48x
Maghull 7 140.00x
Mylor 7 90.91x
Sheffield 7 2.19x
Winshill 7 69.03x
Battersea 6 1.61x
Bracebridge 6 81.19x
Castleton 6 4.99x
Clipsham 6 769.23x
Crayford 6 39.66x
Doncaster 6 8.16x
Dunstall 6 631.58x
Eastwood 6 49.02x
Exeter St David 6 33.22x
Newcastle On Tyne St 6 7.66x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 3.68x
Shenley 6 129.87x
Southampton St Mary 6 4.58x
St George Hanover Square 6 3.35x
St Helier 6 6.12x
St Peter Port 6 10.78x
Tottenham 6 3.71x
Wolverhampton 6 2.28x
Alconbury 5 209.21x
Ancaster 5 220.26x
Ardwick 5 4.60x
Calstock 5 22.17x
Church Gresley 5 19.77x
Hoole 5 59.03x
Horton In Bradford 5 3.18x
Muirkirk 5 28.01x
Paddington London 5 1.34x
Scarborough 5 5.47x
Stapenhill 5 21.13x
Streatham 5 6.64x
Westbury On Trym 5 7.41x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 58
William 53
George 43
Thomas 36
James 31
Henry 20
Charles 19
Frederick 16
Alfred 14
Walter 14
Arthur 9
Francis 8
Robert 8
David 7
Edward 7
Samuel 7
Joseph 6
Daniel 4
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Edmund 3
Felix 3
Fred 3
Harry 3
Isaac 3
Nicholas 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Chas. 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Horace 2
Josiah 2
Leonard 2
Louis 2
Luke 2
Mark 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Alexander 1
Anthony 1
Aquila 1
Ed.J. 1
Edmond 1
Edwd 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Wm.James 1

FAQ

Durant surname: questions and answers

How common was the Durant surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,028 people were recorded with the Durant surname. That placed it at #3,821 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Durant surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,437 in 2016. That gives Durant a modern rank of #4,264.

What does the Durant surname mean?

A French occupational surname referring to someone who was hardy or enduring, or who lived near a stream.

What does the Durant map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Durant 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.