NameCensus.

UK surname

Durie

A variant of the English surname Durie, derived from the French town of Douai.

In the 1881 census there were 503 people recorded with the Durie surname, ranking it #6,747 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 596, ranked #8,758, down from #6,747 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh and Brechin. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Knowsley, Mid Suffolk and IZ17.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Durie is 624 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.5%.

1881 census count

503

Ranked #6,747

Modern count

596

2016, ranked #8,758

Peak year

2010

624 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Durie had 503 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,747 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 596 in 2016, ranked #8,758.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 503 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Durie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Durie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Durie 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 359 #6,583
1861 historical 389 #6,580
1881 historical 503 #6,747
1891 historical 487 #7,590
1901 historical 492 #8,149
1911 historical 89 #23,922
1997 modern 530 #8,911
1998 modern 566 #8,726
1999 modern 589 #8,548
2000 modern 575 #8,648
2001 modern 558 #8,709
2002 modern 569 #8,751
2003 modern 552 #8,814
2004 modern 557 #8,783
2005 modern 547 #8,819
2006 modern 564 #8,668
2007 modern 572 #8,657
2008 modern 573 #8,700
2009 modern 597 #8,629
2010 modern 624 #8,522
2011 modern 612 #8,546
2012 modern 599 #8,618
2013 modern 600 #8,752
2014 modern 596 #8,843
2015 modern 591 #8,828
2016 modern 596 #8,758

Geography

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Where Duries are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh, Brechin, Dirleton and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Knowsley, Mid Suffolk, IZ17, IZ01 and Bonnyrigg North. 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 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Brechin Forfar
4 Dirleton Haddington
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Knowsley 005 Knowsley
2 Mid Suffolk 007 Mid Suffolk
3 IZ17 East Lothian
4 IZ01 East Lothian
5 Bonnyrigg North Midlothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Durie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Durie

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Durie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Durie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Durie is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Durie is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Durie falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Durie

The surname Durie originates from Scotland, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "durete," meaning "hardship" or "endurance," reflecting the resilience of the people who bore this name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Durie appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1290, where a person named Adam Durie is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in Scotland by that time.

In the 14th century, the name Durie is found in various Scottish records, including the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This indicates that the Duries were landholders during this period.

The Duries were particularly prominent in the regions of Fife and Angus, where they held lands and estates. The name is also associated with the village of Durie, located in Fife, which likely derived its name from the family.

One notable figure bearing the Durie surname was John Durie (1596-1680), a Scottish ecclesiastic and scholar who worked towards religious reconciliation between Protestants and Catholics. He was born in Edinburgh and spent much of his life traveling across Europe, advocating for unity among Christian denominations.

Another prominent individual was Andrew Durie (1638-1700), a Scottish mathematician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of geometry. He was born in Fife and served as a professor at the University of St. Andrews.

In the 18th century, James Durie (1755-1818) was a Scottish merchant and banker who played a crucial role in the development of the banking system in Edinburgh. He co-founded the Commercial Bank of Scotland, which later became part of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Robert Durie (1800-1868), born in Fife, was a notable Scottish minister and academic. He served as the Principal of St. Mary's College, St. Andrews, and was a prominent figure in the Church of Scotland.

The Durie surname also gained recognition beyond Scotland, with individuals such as Alexander Durie (1920-2008), a South African cricketer who played for the South African national team in the 1940s and 1950s.

Overall, the Durie surname has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with connections to various regions, notable figures, and accomplishments across different fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Durie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Durie 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. Midlothian leads with 129 Duries recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.66x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 129 19.66x
Fife 71 24.49x
Angus 60 13.23x
Lanarkshire 52 3.28x
East Lothian 41 63.21x
Kincardineshire 40 67.08x
Somerset 16 2.03x
Stirlingshire 14 7.75x
Cheshire 13 1.20x
Lancashire 9 0.15x
Durham 8 0.55x
Ayrshire 7 1.91x
Perthshire 7 3.19x
Middlesex 6 0.12x
Roxburghshire 5 5.64x
West Lothian 5 6.78x
Yorkshire 4 0.08x
Renfrewshire 3 0.79x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.44x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.30x
Royal Navy 2 3.43x
Banffshire 1 0.98x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.76x
Gloucestershire 1 0.10x
Hertfordshire 1 0.30x
Nairnshire 1 6.69x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 42 Duries recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.91x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 42 15.91x
Barony 28 6.99x
South Leith 22 29.80x
Brechin 20 112.17x
Dundee 17 10.04x
Haddington 15 156.74x
Cupar 14 111.02x
Wemyss 12 97.88x
Dirleton 11 431.37x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 11 70.88x
Bervie 10 283.29x
Fettercairn 10 393.70x
Fetteresso 10 107.07x
Glasgow 10 3.56x
Collessie 9 269.46x
Newton 9 407.24x
North Leith 9 29.64x
Montrose 8 29.10x
Sampford Brett 8 2222.22x
Berwick North 7 154.19x
Dalkeith 7 54.10x
Dunfermline 7 15.71x
Hamilton 7 15.85x
Irvine 7 68.76x
Liverpool 7 1.98x
Bedminster 6 8.10x
Dunipace 6 189.87x
Edinburgh Greenside 6 69.20x
Edinburgh St Andrews 6 110.70x
Inveresk 6 33.78x
Laurencekirk 6 173.91x
Tranmere 6 15.10x
Arbroath 5 33.27x
Edinburgh St Georges 5 36.74x
Inverkeithing 5 114.42x
Markinch 5 50.81x
Maryhill 5 16.13x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 5 40.23x
St Vigeans 5 20.42x
Bothkennar 4 74.21x
Currie 4 99.50x
Dunnottar 4 95.24x
Falkirk 4 9.46x
Garvald 4 312.50x
Logie 4 615.38x
Manningham 4 6.69x
Muthill 4 139.37x
Queensferry 4 222.22x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 4.75x
Jedburgh 3 34.52x
Kingsbarns 3 225.56x
Leuchars 3 81.74x
Abbotshall 2 18.47x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 2 2.36x
Birkenhead 2 2.32x
Conside Knitsley 2 17.65x
Gateshead 2 1.83x
Liff Benvie 2 2.90x
Neilston 2 10.50x
Newburgh 2 54.35x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.17x
St Marylebone London 2 0.77x
St Pancras London 2 0.51x
Taunton St James 2 17.39x
Whitekirk Tynninghame 2 112.99x
Ancrum 1 43.48x
Anstruther Wester 1 88.50x
Arbirlot 1 72.46x
Coupar Angus 1 23.31x
Crichton 1 54.64x
Duddingston 1 7.59x
Dunblane 1 19.01x
Forgan 1 18.02x
New Kilpatrick 1 7.99x
Paddington London 1 0.56x
Paisley High Church 1 3.31x
Pencaitland 1 54.05x
Perth West Church 1 9.59x
Sedgley 1 1.63x
Shotts 1 5.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Robert 6
William 6
James 4
Charles 3
Alexander 2
George 2
John 2
Thomas 2
David 1
Ernest 1
Fector 1
Rowley 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Durie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Durie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 503 people were recorded with the Durie surname. That placed it at #6,747 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Durie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 596 in 2016. That gives Durie a modern rank of #8,758.

What does the Durie surname mean?

A variant of the English surname Durie, derived from the French town of Douai.

What does the Durie map show?

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