NameCensus.

UK surname

Durrell

English surname referring to someone from a place called Durrell.

In the 1881 census there were 231 people recorded with the Durrell surname, ranking it #11,722 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 300, ranked #14,738, down from #11,722 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wivenhoe, London parishes and Ruston, East. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tendring, Ipswich and Thanet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Durrell is 329 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.9%.

1881 census count

231

Ranked #11,722

Modern count

300

2016, ranked #14,738

Peak year

1998

329 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Durrell had 231 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,722 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 300 in 2016, ranked #14,738.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 238 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Durrell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Durrell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Durrell 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 159 #12,400
1861 historical 200 #12,005
1881 historical 231 #11,722
1891 historical 156 #17,842
1901 historical 218 #14,332
1911 historical 238 #13,356
1997 modern 308 #13,297
1998 modern 329 #13,070
1999 modern 325 #13,257
2000 modern 319 #13,391
2001 modern 311 #13,423
2002 modern 310 #13,697
2003 modern 306 #13,641
2004 modern 311 #13,549
2005 modern 297 #13,916
2006 modern 301 #13,886
2007 modern 298 #14,103
2008 modern 298 #14,206
2009 modern 307 #14,192
2010 modern 304 #14,591
2011 modern 314 #14,165
2012 modern 311 #14,173
2013 modern 325 #13,924
2014 modern 322 #14,113
2015 modern 310 #14,402
2016 modern 300 #14,738

Geography

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Where Durrells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wivenhoe, London parishes, Ruston, East, Hayling, South and Aylsham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tendring, Ipswich, Thanet and Tewkesbury. 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 Wivenhoe Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Ruston, East Norfolk
4 Hayling, South Hampshire
5 Aylsham Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tendring 009 Tendring
2 Ipswich 009 Ipswich
3 Thanet 007 Thanet
4 Tewkesbury 003 Tewkesbury
5 Ipswich 008 Ipswich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Durrell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Durrell

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

London Fringe

Within London, Durrell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Durrell 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

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

Meaning and origin of Durrell

The surname Durrell is of Norman French origin and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "dorel," meaning "little gift." The name likely originated in the Normandy region of France.

In the aftermath of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, many Norman families settled in various parts of the country, including Sussex, where the name Durrell first appeared in historical records. The Domesday Book of 1086 mentions a landowner named Radulfus Dorell in Sussex.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Durrell can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a William Durell is listed. The surname also appears in various medieval documents from the 13th and 14th centuries, with spellings such as Dorell, Dorelle, and Durryll.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Durrell was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset. Notable individuals from this period include Sir Robert Durrell (1585-1649), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire, and William Durrell (1616-1679), a merchant and philanthropist from Bristol.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Durrell family established itself as a prominent lineage, with several members achieving success in various fields. One of the most notable figures was Edward Durrell (1738-1803), an English banker and philanthropist who founded the Durrell School for the Education of Poor Children in London.

Another distinguished individual was Lawrence Durrell (1912-1990), a British novelist, poet, and travel writer, best known for his Alexandria Quartet series of novels. His brother, Gerald Durrell (1925-1995), was a renowned naturalist, zookeeper, and author, famous for his books on animal conservation and his efforts in establishing wildlife parks and reserves.

Other notable individuals with the surname Durrell include Desmond Durrell (1884-1966), a British actor and playwright, and Nigel Durrell (1940-2016), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Durrell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Durrell 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. Norfolk leads with 46 Durrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.22x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 46 13.22x
Hampshire 44 9.49x
Middlesex 29 1.28x
Essex 28 6.27x
Suffolk 20 7.26x
Surrey 14 1.27x
Bedfordshire 9 7.68x
Somerset 8 2.20x
Dorset 6 4.04x
Kent 6 0.78x
Sussex 6 1.57x
Yorkshire 5 0.22x
Warwickshire 4 0.70x
Gloucestershire 2 0.45x
Shropshire 2 1.02x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.72x
Worcestershire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Ruston in Norfolk leads with 22 Durrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4230.77x.

Place Total Index
East Ruston 22 4230.77x
Portsea 19 20.90x
Wivenhoe 17 960.45x
Aylsham 13 628.02x
South Hayling 12 1445.78x
Leighton Buzzard 9 178.57x
Chillington 8 4444.44x
Norwich St Swithin 8 1333.33x
Stowmarket 8 250.78x
Hambledon 7 448.72x
Ratcliffe London 7 56.00x
Bermondsey 6 8.91x
Gorleston 6 85.71x
Lambeth 6 3.04x
Chelsea London 5 7.33x
Offham 5 1785.71x
Colchester St Peter 4 223.46x
Coventry Holy Trinity 4 23.47x
Ipswich St Clement 4 57.06x
Shaftesbury Holy Trinity 4 519.48x
Tendring St Nicolas 4 888.89x
Broadwater 3 34.29x
Mile End Old Town London 3 6.23x
Shoreditch London 3 3.06x
St Giles In Fields London 3 27.03x
Bedhampton 2 363.64x
Bethnal Green London 2 2.03x
Eastbourne 2 11.39x
Halifax 2 6.08x
Manningham 2 7.24x
Mile End New Town London 2 44.74x
Motcombe 2 183.49x
New Buckenham 2 465.12x
North Hayling 2 952.38x
St Gilesin Fields London 2 104.71x
Warblington 2 108.70x
Bourton On The Hill 1 285.71x
Bradford 1 1.84x
Brightlingsea 1 39.22x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 2.39x
Clapham 1 3.53x
Creeting St Mary 1 555.56x
Droitwich St Peter 1 151.52x
East Ham 1 12.06x
Godalming 1 14.41x
Greenwich 1 2.78x
Kensington London 1 0.79x
Lakenham 1 20.24x
Leebotwood 1 714.29x
Leyton Low 1 11.01x
Lowestoft 1 7.68x
Madeley 1 13.95x
Oxford St Thomas 1 15.34x
West Derby 1 1.27x
West Tarring 1 175.44x
Westminster St Margaret 1 9.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 13
Sarah 13
Mary 10
Alice 5
Eliza 5
Ellen 5
Ann 4
Annie 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Elizabeth 3
Maria 3
Edith 2
Emily 2
Lilian 2
Lillian 2
Lucy 2
Rosa 2
Alis 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Blanch 1
Caroline 1
Christina 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Georgehana 1
Hannah 1
Hannahull 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Honor 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Mabel 1
Marg.E. 1
Marian 1
Marion 1
Maryann 1
Mav 1
Minnie 1
R. 1
Rebecca 1
Thursa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
William 11
George 8
Charles 7
Henry 6
Joseph 6
Ernest 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
Thomas 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Geo.A. 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Dennis 1
Dick 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Harold 1
Hay 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Noe 1
Norman 1
Randell 1
Robert 1
Roland 1
Rupert 1
Sabitam 1
Stanley 1
Sydney 1
T. 1
Timothy 1
Tom 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Durrell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Durrell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 231 people were recorded with the Durrell surname. That placed it at #11,722 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Durrell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 300 in 2016. That gives Durrell a modern rank of #14,738.

What does the Durrell surname mean?

English surname referring to someone from a place called Durrell.

What does the Durrell map show?

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