NameCensus.

UK surname

Durman

An English surname derived from the Old French word "dormant," meaning "sleeper" or "guard."

In the 1881 census there were 263 people recorded with the Durman surname, ranking it #10,692 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 405, ranked #11,774, down from #10,692 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Beckenham and Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Devon, West Somerset and South Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Durman is 440 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.0%.

1881 census count

263

Ranked #10,692

Modern count

405

2016, ranked #11,774

Peak year

1911

440 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Durman had 263 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,692 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 405 in 2016, ranked #11,774.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 440 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Durman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Durman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Durman 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 220 #9,671
1861 historical 216 #11,273
1881 historical 263 #10,692
1891 historical 343 #9,994
1901 historical 390 #9,650
1911 historical 440 #8,661
1997 modern 382 #11,377
1998 modern 396 #11,435
1999 modern 420 #11,035
2000 modern 440 #10,629
2001 modern 421 #10,789
2002 modern 414 #11,151
2003 modern 403 #11,210
2004 modern 400 #11,281
2005 modern 387 #11,463
2006 modern 390 #11,459
2007 modern 401 #11,353
2008 modern 399 #11,494
2009 modern 404 #11,636
2010 modern 412 #11,707
2011 modern 420 #11,402
2012 modern 407 #11,584
2013 modern 429 #11,280
2014 modern 431 #11,308
2015 modern 417 #11,532
2016 modern 405 #11,774

Geography

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Where Durmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Beckenham, Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),, Merthyr Dovan, Highlight and Froxfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Devon, West Somerset, South Oxfordshire, Taunton Deane and South Hams. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Beckenham Kent
3 Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), Berkshire
4 Merthyr Dovan, Highlight Glamorganshire
5 Froxfield Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Devon 003 Mid Devon
2 West Somerset 001 West Somerset
3 South Oxfordshire 013 South Oxfordshire
4 Taunton Deane 014 Taunton Deane
5 South Hams 002 South Hams

Forenames

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First names often paired with Durman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Durman

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Durman is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Durman is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Durman falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Durman

The surname Durman is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "dure," meaning "door," and the suffix "-man," indicating a person or occupation. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a doorkeeper or a person responsible for maintaining doors.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Durman can be found in the parish records of St. Bride's Church in London, where a William Durman was mentioned in 1588. The Durman family appears to have been concentrated in the counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset during this period.

In the 17th century, the Durman surname can be found in various historical documents, including the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, which listed individuals who swore allegiance to the Protestant faith. A John Durman from Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, was recorded in these returns.

During the 18th century, the Durman family continued to have a presence in the Gloucestershire and Somerset areas. In 1768, a Richard Durman was recorded as a resident of Alderley, Gloucestershire, in the Gloucestershire Poll Book.

One notable individual with the surname Durman was Thomas Durman (1657-1737), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Eton College from 1711 until his death. He published several works, including a collection of sermons.

Another figure of note was William Durman (1782-1869), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Paddington and the Church of St. Saviour in Walton Street.

In the 19th century, the Durman family continued to have a presence in various parts of England. John Durman (1810-1887) was a renowned botanist and horticulturist from Dorset, known for his contributions to the study of British flora.

Robert Durman (1864-1943) was a notable English cricketer who played for Somerset County Cricket Club in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the Durman surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Durman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Durman 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 101 Durmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.82x.

County Total Index
Somerset 101 23.82x
Hampshire 43 7.97x
Surrey 25 1.95x
Berkshire 20 10.12x
Middlesex 20 0.76x
Yorkshire 13 0.50x
Lanarkshire 9 1.06x
Lancashire 7 0.22x
Essex 6 1.15x
Channel Islands 5 6.41x
Devon 5 0.91x
Dorset 4 2.31x
Kent 3 0.33x
Sussex 3 0.68x
Gloucestershire 2 0.39x
Ayrshire 1 0.51x
Durham 1 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 3.19x
Staffordshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Petherton in Somerset leads with 32 Durmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 935.67x.

Place Total Index
North Petherton 32 935.67x
Froxfield 13 2096.77x
Isle Abbotts 13 4193.55x
Reading St Mary 10 63.17x
South Stoneham 10 85.40x
Ashill 9 2142.86x
Barony 9 4.18x
Broadway 7 1707.32x
Horton In Bradford 7 17.17x
Southampton St Mary 7 20.62x
Buckland St Mary 6 1090.91x
Camberwell 6 3.57x
Hunslet 6 14.75x
Lambeth 6 2.61x
West Ham 6 5.23x
Winscombe 6 526.32x
Clapham 5 15.19x
Creech St Michael 5 471.70x
Liverpool 5 2.63x
Batheaston 4 275.86x
Chickerell 4 540.54x
Hatch Beauchamp 4 1212.12x
Reading St Giles 4 20.63x
St Saviour 4 92.81x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.62x
Bridgewater 3 26.06x
Ilminster 3 101.35x
Kintbury 3 196.08x
Millbrook 3 22.06x
Petersfield 3 202.70x
St George Hanover Square 3 6.47x
Stonehouse East 3 107.91x
Wandsworth 3 11.83x
Westminster St John 3 9.35x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 11.61x
Clevedon 2 45.35x
Croydon 2 2.81x
Dover St James 2 50.76x
Exeter St David 2 42.74x
Fulham London 2 5.24x
Heston 2 22.86x
Kensington London 2 1.37x
Long Ditton 2 95.24x
Sonning 2 91.74x
St Faith Winchester 2 79.37x
Taunton St Mary 2 25.71x
Aldershot 1 5.53x
Bromley London 1 1.73x
Ealing 1 4.25x
Eastbourne 1 4.89x
Girvan 1 20.20x
Hackney London 1 0.68x
Houghton Le Spring 1 18.45x
Midhurst 1 68.49x
Morden 1 156.25x
New Alresford 1 71.43x
Newton In Makerfield 1 10.45x
Niton 1 138.89x
Paddington London 1 1.03x
Pagham 1 128.21x
Portsmouth 1 8.05x
Royal Navy 1 3.73x
St Martin In Fields 1 6.34x
St Peter Port 1 6.93x
Staple Fitzpaine 1 588.24x
Thorne Falcon 1 588.24x
Tonbridge 1 3.09x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 29.33x
West Hatch 1 263.16x
Whitwell 1 156.25x
Wigan 1 2.29x
Winford 1 117.65x
Winkfield 1 30.49x
Wolverhampton 1 1.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Sarah 13
Alice 6
Ann 6
Elizabeth 6
Ellen 5
Annie 4
Caroline 4
Anna 3
Charlotte 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Susan 3
Bessie 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Anguela 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Emly 1
Ernest 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Florie 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Helena 1
James 1
Jemima 1
Julia 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margret 1
Martha 1
Miriam 1
Prusilla 1
Rhoda 1
Rosa 1
Sabrena 1
Selena 1
Selina 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Durman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Durman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 263 people were recorded with the Durman surname. That placed it at #10,692 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Durman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 405 in 2016. That gives Durman a modern rank of #11,774.

What does the Durman surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French word "dormant," meaning "sleeper" or "guard."

What does the Durman map show?

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