NameCensus.

UK surname

Durrant

From the Old French "durant" meaning "enduring," likely referring to someone steadfast, persistent, or tenacious.

In the 1881 census there were 4,676 people recorded with the Durrant surname, ranking it #952 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,994, ranked #1,126, down from #952 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Walton and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Great Yarmouth, South Kesteven and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Durrant is 6,603 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.2%.

1881 census count

4,676

Ranked #952

Modern count

5,994

2016, ranked #1,126

Peak year

1998

6,603 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Durrant had 4,676 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #952 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,994 in 2016, ranked #1,126.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,370 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Durrant surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Durrant surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Durrant 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 2,709 #1,088
1861 historical 2,324 #1,270
1881 historical 4,676 #952
1891 historical 4,522 #1,038
1901 historical 5,682 #980
1911 historical 6,370 #805
1997 modern 6,383 #1,027
1998 modern 6,603 #1,031
1999 modern 6,601 #1,043
2000 modern 6,522 #1,051
2001 modern 6,388 #1,047
2002 modern 6,431 #1,066
2003 modern 6,227 #1,073
2004 modern 6,277 #1,066
2005 modern 6,092 #1,079
2006 modern 6,052 #1,077
2007 modern 6,081 #1,082
2008 modern 6,038 #1,098
2009 modern 6,129 #1,112
2010 modern 6,228 #1,115
2011 modern 6,165 #1,109
2012 modern 6,020 #1,115
2013 modern 6,078 #1,120
2014 modern 6,109 #1,119
2015 modern 6,007 #1,127
2016 modern 5,994 #1,126

Geography

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Where Durrants are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Walton, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos and Ipswich St Mary Stoke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Great Yarmouth, South Kesteven, North Norfolk and Broadland. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Walton Suffolk
4 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
5 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Great Yarmouth 003 Great Yarmouth
2 South Kesteven 015 South Kesteven
3 North Norfolk 003 North Norfolk
4 Broadland 014 Broadland
5 North Norfolk 005 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Durrant

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Durrant

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

Durrant is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Durrant 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 Durrant 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 Durrant, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Durrant

The surname DURRANT originated from Normandy in France, and dates back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "durant", meaning "enduring" or "lasting". This was likely a nickname given to someone who was particularly resilient or steadfast in their character.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name was found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared as "Durant", referring to a landowner in Oxfordshire.

As the name spread throughout England, various spellings emerged, such as Durand, Duraunt, and Durraunt. It is thought that the addition of the "-t" at the end of the name was a result of French influence during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, records show a Johannes Durand, who was a prominent figure in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. These rolls were administrative documents that recorded the holdings of landowners in the region.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the DURRANT surname was Sir Ralph Durrant, who was born in 1402 and served as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk in 1449. He was also a notable landowner and military commander during the Wars of the Roses.

Another prominent figure with the DURRANT surname was Sir Thomas Durrant, who was born in 1528 and served as Lord Mayor of London in 1573. He was a successful merchant and played a significant role in the expansion of English trade with the Netherlands and Germany.

In the 17th century, Sir William Durrant, born in 1616, was a highly respected judge and legal scholar. He served as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1668 until his death in 1677.

During the 18th century, the DURRANT surname was particularly prevalent in the county of Norfolk, where several notable individuals bore the name. One such person was Edward Durrant, born in 1712, who was a renowned botanist and naturalist. He made significant contributions to the study of plant life in Norfolk and collaborated with renowned scientists of his time.

In the 19th century, George Durrant, born in 1820, was a prolific writer and journalist. He worked for several prominent publications, including the London Times, and authored several books on historical and literary topics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Durrant families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Durrant 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. Suffolk leads with 772 Durrants recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.86x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 772 13.86x
Norfolk 706 10.04x
Middlesex 614 1.34x
Sussex 415 5.38x
Surrey 408 1.83x
Kent 355 2.28x
Essex 286 3.17x
Dorset 193 6.43x
Hertfordshire 142 4.51x
Yorkshire 88 0.19x
Bedfordshire 84 3.55x
Hampshire 80 0.85x
Lancashire 61 0.11x
Buckinghamshire 57 2.06x
Cambridgeshire 44 1.52x
Devon 37 0.39x
Somerset 37 0.50x
Northamptonshire 29 0.67x
Warwickshire 26 0.23x
Staffordshire 23 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 22 0.36x
Worcestershire 22 0.37x
Cheshire 21 0.21x
Durham 21 0.15x
Berkshire 19 0.55x
Huntingdonshire 12 1.32x
Cornwall 11 0.21x
Gloucestershire 11 0.12x
Leicestershire 11 0.22x
Glamorgan 9 0.11x
Northumberland 9 0.13x
Derbyshire 8 0.11x
Channel Islands 6 0.44x
Herefordshire 6 0.32x
Lincolnshire 6 0.08x
Royal Navy 6 1.10x
Midlothian 4 0.07x
Monmouthshire 4 0.12x
Shropshire 4 0.10x
Wiltshire 4 0.10x
Oxfordshire 3 0.11x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.10x
Perthshire 2 0.10x
Westmorland 2 0.20x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.26x
Cumberland 1 0.03x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.07x
Stirlingshire 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. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 129 Durrants recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.15x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 129 22.15x
Islington London 68 1.53x
Caundle Stourton 56 957.27x
Walton 55 275.83x
Gorleston 47 33.22x
Kessingland 46 239.21x
West Ham 46 2.31x
Kirdford 44 164.42x
Waldron 44 209.52x
Hemel Hempstead 43 30.28x
Camberwell 41 1.40x
Reedham 40 297.62x
Lambeth 39 0.98x
St Pancras London 38 1.03x
St Marylebone London 36 1.47x
Luton 35 8.54x
Battersea 31 1.84x
Wonersh 31 111.51x
Hackney London 30 1.17x
Bromley London 28 2.78x
Burwell 27 77.81x
Kensington London 27 1.06x
St George Hanover Square 27 3.35x
Deptford St Paul 26 2.16x
Lowestoft 26 9.88x
Walthamstow 26 8.00x
Bedfield 25 425.17x
Chelsea London 25 1.81x
Garvestone 25 475.29x
Ipswich St Margaret 25 13.23x
Ipswich St Mathew 25 16.02x
Paddington London 25 1.49x
Rotherhithe 25 4.43x
Brighton 24 1.54x
Cromer 24 96.04x
Hickling 24 185.19x
Milborne Port 24 81.49x
Buckland Newton 23 171.51x
Reigate Foreign 23 9.53x
Sparham 23 477.18x
Ipswich St Mary At Elms 22 124.36x
Mile End Old Town London 22 2.26x
Shoreditch London 22 1.11x
Buxhall 21 281.88x
Heigham 21 5.57x
Portsea 21 1.14x
Bethnal Green London 20 1.01x
Eastbourne 20 5.64x
Harwich St Nicholas 20 28.69x
Romford 20 14.02x
Cretingham 19 391.75x
Dunstable 19 26.12x
Hawkhurst 19 39.18x
Lindfield 19 58.32x
Burgh St Margaret 18 208.09x
Chelmsford 18 11.62x
Croydon 18 1.46x
Hampstead London 18 2.53x
Ealing 17 4.16x
Westminster St John 17 3.05x
Wootton Glanville 17 458.22x
Bungay St Mary 16 57.99x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 16 15.31x
Buxted 16 53.03x
Dorking 16 10.70x
Hadleigh 16 29.61x
Southwark St George Martyr 16 1.74x
Caistor Next Yarmouth 15 60.63x
Chatham 15 3.50x
Rollesby 15 170.45x
Tonbridge 15 2.67x
Watford 15 6.14x
Gillingham 14 4.35x
Greenwich 14 1.92x
Kensworth 14 136.59x
Leeds 14 0.55x
Ormesby 14 11.50x
Stowmarket 14 21.75x
Trimley St Mary 14 213.41x
Woodbridge 14 19.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 245
Elizabeth 165
Sarah 145
Eliza 109
Jane 92
Emily 88
Alice 86
Ellen 85
Emma 80
Ann 78
Annie 58
Harriet 52
Martha 40
Caroline 39
Edith 39
Louisa 38
Hannah 35
Kate 33
Fanny 30
Harriett 30
Charlotte 28
Rose 27
Ada 26
Maria 24
Clara 21
Florence 20
Lucy 19
Susan 19
Agnes 18
Margaret 18
Matilda 18
Frances 17
Minnie 17
Gertrude 15
Susannah 15
Amelia 14
Sophia 14
Catherine 13
Jessie 13
Anna 12
Anne 12
Beatrice 12
Laura 12
Flora 11
Julia 11
Maud 11
Esther 10
Ethel 10
Phoebe 8
Rosa 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 303
John 198
George 197
James 139
Charles 113
Henry 103
Thomas 100
Robert 75
Alfred 58
Arthur 54
Frederick 53
Edward 49
Walter 47
Harry 42
Samuel 40
Joseph 37
Albert 34
Ernest 31
Frank 24
David 20
Edwin 16
Herbert 16
Benjamin 15
Richard 15
Daniel 13
Edmund 12
Stephen 11
Peter 9
Robt. 9
Fred 8
Sidney 8
Wm. 8
Francis 7
Horace 7
Percy 7
Thos. 7
Amos 6
Christopher 6
Frederic 6
Geo. 6
Jeremiah 6
Jesse 6
Louis 6
Reginald 6
Trayton 6
Fredk. 5
Willm. 5
Chas. 4
Henery 4
Martin 4

FAQ

Durrant surname: questions and answers

How common was the Durrant surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,676 people were recorded with the Durrant surname. That placed it at #952 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Durrant surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,994 in 2016. That gives Durrant a modern rank of #1,126.

What does the Durrant surname mean?

From the Old French "durant" meaning "enduring," likely referring to someone steadfast, persistent, or tenacious.

What does the Durrant map show?

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