NameCensus.

UK surname

Durbin

Derived from the Old English words "deor" meaning deer and "burna" meaning stream, likely referring to someone who lived near a deer stream.

In the 1881 census there were 568 people recorded with the Durbin surname, ranking it #6,114 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 989, ranked #5,852, up from #6,114 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Bedminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Halton, Aylesbury Vale and Walsall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Durbin is 1,024 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.1%.

1881 census count

568

Ranked #6,114

Modern count

989

2016, ranked #5,852

Peak year

2011

1,024 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Durbin had 568 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,114 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 989 in 2016, ranked #5,852.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 912 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Durbin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Durbin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Durbin 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 318 #7,293
1861 historical 324 #7,860
1881 historical 568 #6,114
1891 historical 656 #5,920
1901 historical 811 #5,569
1911 historical 912 #4,892
1997 modern 940 #5,767
1998 modern 1,009 #5,637
1999 modern 1,008 #5,677
2000 modern 1,014 #5,614
2001 modern 982 #5,657
2002 modern 1,016 #5,619
2003 modern 997 #5,607
2004 modern 1,005 #5,574
2005 modern 963 #5,720
2006 modern 955 #5,770
2007 modern 952 #5,841
2008 modern 954 #5,860
2009 modern 987 #5,831
2010 modern 1,005 #5,857
2011 modern 1,024 #5,711
2012 modern 976 #5,854
2013 modern 1,002 #5,812
2014 modern 1,007 #5,828
2015 modern 997 #5,818
2016 modern 989 #5,852

Geography

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Where Durbins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Halton, Aylesbury Vale, Walsall, Sedgemoor and Bath and North East Somerset. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Bedminster Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Halton 007 Halton
2 Aylesbury Vale 004 Aylesbury Vale
3 Walsall 012 Walsall
4 Sedgemoor 001 Sedgemoor
5 Bath and North East Somerset 021 Bath and North East Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Durbin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Durbin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Durbin, 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 Durbin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Durbin 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, Durbin 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

Durbin is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Durbin falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Durbin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Durbin

The surname Durbin originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "durbyn," which means "from the town of Derby." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who hailed from Derby, a city in the East Midlands region of England.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Durbin can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire from 1176, where a person named William Durbin is listed. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Shropshire in 1273, referencing a Robert de Durbyn.

In medieval times, the name Durbin was often associated with the town of Durban, which was an older spelling of the modern-day Derby. This connection to a place name was a common practice during that era, as surnames were often derived from the locations where individuals or their families originated.

Among the notable historical figures bearing the surname Durbin, one can mention Sir William Durbin (c. 1550-1629), an English politician who served as a member of the Parliament of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent individual was John Durbin (1800-1887), an English Methodist minister and author who played a significant role in the expansion of Methodism in France.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Durbin was John Durbin, who arrived in Virginia in 1636. Later, in the 19th century, Winfield T. Durbin (1847-1923) gained recognition as a prominent lawyer and politician from Indiana, serving as the Lieutenant Governor of the state from 1901 to 1905.

Another notable figure was Martin Durbin (1800-1890), an early settler and pioneer in Illinois, who established the town of Durbin, now known as Villa Grove. Additionally, Evan Pugh Durbin (1893-1975), an American lawyer and diplomat, served as the United States Ambassador to Israel from 1957 to 1961.

Throughout its history, the surname Durbin has been associated with various place names and spellings, such as Durbyn, Durbyne, and Durban, reflecting its connection to the town of Derby and the evolution of the name over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Durbin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Durbin 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. Somerset leads with 327 Durbins recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.93x.

County Total Index
Somerset 327 36.93x
Gloucestershire 39 3.61x
Middlesex 30 0.55x
Glamorgan 27 2.82x
Surrey 16 0.60x
Yorkshire 16 0.29x
Monmouthshire 15 3.77x
Warwickshire 14 1.01x
Lancashire 13 0.20x
Staffordshire 13 0.70x
Herefordshire 12 5.32x
Devon 7 0.61x
Kent 7 0.37x
Hampshire 5 0.44x
Wiltshire 5 1.03x
Brecknockshire 4 3.64x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.15x
Northumberland 4 0.49x
Worcestershire 2 0.28x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Durham 1 0.06x
Norfolk 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 1.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 76 Durbins recorded in 1881 and an index of 91.34x.

Place Total Index
Bedminster 76 91.34x
Nailsea 29 828.57x
East Harptree 22 1774.19x
Cheddar 19 426.01x
Clevedon 16 173.72x
Aberdare 15 22.81x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 15 14.77x
Camerton 11 426.36x
Walcot 11 23.32x
Aston 10 2.62x
Aberystruth 9 25.67x
Cameley 9 909.09x
Emborough 9 2647.06x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 9 126.23x
Yatton 9 260.87x
Ystradyfodwg 9 10.71x
Bristol St George 8 16.03x
Compton Martin 8 1025.64x
Easton In Gordano 8 224.72x
Tarrington 8 851.06x
Ubley 8 1481.48x
Chewton Mendip 7 476.19x
Fulham London 7 8.77x
Lambeth 7 1.46x
Middlesbrough 7 9.86x
Putney 7 27.92x
Clifton 6 11.00x
Dunkerton 6 312.50x
Kensington London 6 1.96x
Norwood 6 47.69x
Portishead 6 91.19x
Walton In Gordano 6 638.30x
Ardwick 5 8.49x
Chew Stoke 5 381.68x
Congresbury 5 223.21x
Englishcombe 5 510.20x
Harborne 5 8.40x
Holy Trinity 5 3.81x
Lee 5 18.35x
Accrington 4 6.74x
Alverstoke 4 9.80x
Amblecote 4 75.61x
Bathwick 4 40.82x
Corsham 4 56.34x
Coventry St Michael 4 8.97x
Ledbury 4 51.61x
Llangunider 4 58.39x
Longbenton 4 11.54x
Newport 4 21.09x
Smallthorne 4 58.06x
Wedmore 4 69.44x
Weston Super Mare 4 17.89x
Wrington 4 134.68x
Bristol Temple 3 42.25x
Harston 3 202.70x
Horbury 3 31.45x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 3.40x
Tickenham 3 476.19x
Wells St Cuthbert 3 49.67x
Westbury On Trym 3 8.21x
Yeovil 3 16.68x
Badgworth 2 377.36x
Battersea 2 0.99x
Bleadon 2 170.94x
Chelsea London 2 1.21x
Christon 2 1818.18x
Great Malvern 2 13.34x
Keynsham 2 31.45x
Lyncombe Widcombe 2 8.62x
Manchester 2 0.68x
Portbury 2 135.14x
St Woollos 2 4.51x
Widworthy 2 800.00x
Woolwich 2 2.88x
Bampton 1 28.49x
Bristol St John Baptist 1 100.00x
Clutton 1 52.08x
Hendon 1 5.05x
Margam 1 9.36x
Morchard Bishop 1 41.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Elizabeth 22
Sarah 16
Emma 14
Alice 13
Eliza 13
Louisa 13
Ann 7
Hannah 7
Jane 7
Ellen 6
Emily 6
Florence 6
Ada 5
Anne 5
Annie 5
Kate 4
Lucy 4
Martha 4
Anna 3
Clara 3
Harriet 3
Hester 3
Minnie 3
Bethia 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Elizebeth 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Lilly 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Maryann 2
Rosa 2
Rose 2
Anny 1
Antonette 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Dorando 1
Eleanor 1
Ethel 1
Hariett 1
Harriett 1
Isabel 1
Janet 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 34
John 31
George 24
Henry 21
James 18
Charles 16
Albert 11
Joseph 11
Thomas 9
Alfred 8
Edwin 8
Edward 6
Frank 6
Samuel 6
Arthur 5
Walter 5
Robert 4
Frederick 3
Mark 3
Tom 3
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Job 2
Richard 2
Seth 2
Uriah 2
Willm. 2
Austin 1
Caleb 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geoe. 1
Geoff.Henry. 1
Herbert. 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Joshua 1
Luke 1
Oliver 1
R. 1
Sidney 1
Simon 1
Stuart 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Durbin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Durbin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 568 people were recorded with the Durbin surname. That placed it at #6,114 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Durbin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 989 in 2016. That gives Durbin a modern rank of #5,852.

What does the Durbin surname mean?

Derived from the Old English words "deor" meaning deer and "burna" meaning stream, likely referring to someone who lived near a deer stream.

What does the Durbin map show?

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