NameCensus.

UK surname

Durston

An English place name referring to someone from Durston, Staffordshire.

In the 1881 census there were 562 people recorded with the Durston surname, ranking it #6,164 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 833, ranked #6,689, down from #6,164 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street and Moorlinch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, Sedgemoor and Kirriemuir Landward.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Durston is 888 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.2%.

1881 census count

562

Ranked #6,164

Modern count

833

2016, ranked #6,689

Peak year

1999

888 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Durston had 562 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,164 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 833 in 2016, ranked #6,689.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 803 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Durston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Durston surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Durston 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 324 #7,179
1861 historical 446 #5,796
1881 historical 562 #6,164
1891 historical 596 #6,422
1901 historical 783 #5,742
1911 historical 803 #5,465
1997 modern 835 #6,325
1998 modern 867 #6,339
1999 modern 888 #6,273
2000 modern 880 #6,272
2001 modern 873 #6,206
2002 modern 886 #6,255
2003 modern 840 #6,393
2004 modern 840 #6,407
2005 modern 796 #6,633
2006 modern 801 #6,622
2007 modern 795 #6,727
2008 modern 787 #6,846
2009 modern 799 #6,900
2010 modern 810 #6,949
2011 modern 805 #6,911
2012 modern 811 #6,762
2013 modern 851 #6,624
2014 modern 842 #6,706
2015 modern 837 #6,684
2016 modern 833 #6,689

Geography

Back to top

Where Durstons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street, Moorlinch, London parishes and Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, Sedgemoor and Kirriemuir Landward. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street Somerset
3 Moorlinch Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 012 Mendip
2 Sedgemoor 003 Sedgemoor
3 Mendip 014 Mendip
4 Kirriemuir Landward Angus
5 Mendip 011 Mendip

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Durston

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Durston

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Durston is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Durston 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

Durston 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 Durston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Durston

The surname Durston is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "deor" meaning "deer" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "farm," suggesting a connection to a place where deer were kept or resided.

Durston is a locational surname, indicating that the earliest bearers of this name hailed from a specific area. One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Derstun" in reference to a settlement in Somerset.

The earliest documented individual with the surname Durston was John Durston, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset in 1212. Another early bearer of the name was William de Durston, mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1268.

Over the centuries, the surname Durston has undergone various spelling variations, including Dyrston, Durstun, and Dearston, reflecting the evolution of language and regional dialects.

One notable figure in history with the surname Durston was Sir William Durston (c. 1480-1548), a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry from Staffordshire. He served as Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1531 and played a role in the local administration during the reign of Henry VIII.

Another individual of note was John Durston (1547-1615), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Stow and wrote several religious works.

In the 17th century, Thomas Durston (1599-1680) was a prominent Puritan minister and one of the founders of the New Haven Colony in Connecticut, United States. He played a significant role in the early settlement and religious life of the colony.

Henry Durston (1735-1805) was a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He participated in several notable battles and rose to the rank of Admiral in the Royal Navy.

The surname Durston has also been associated with various places throughout England, such as the village of Durston in Somerset, which likely takes its name from the same Old English roots as the surname itself.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Durston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Durston 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 384 Durstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.51x.

County Total Index
Somerset 384 43.51x
Middlesex 43 0.78x
Gloucestershire 30 2.79x
Devon 13 1.14x
Glamorgan 13 1.36x
Monmouthshire 10 2.52x
Hampshire 9 0.80x
Kent 8 0.43x
Staffordshire 7 0.38x
Suffolk 7 1.05x
Cheshire 6 0.50x
Derbyshire 6 0.70x
Lancashire 6 0.09x
Surrey 6 0.22x
Sussex 3 0.32x
Yorkshire 3 0.06x
Royal Navy 2 3.06x
Worcestershire 2 0.28x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.30x
Herefordshire 1 0.44x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x
Wiltshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bridgewater in Somerset leads with 35 Durstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 146.08x.

Place Total Index
Bridgewater 35 146.08x
Catcott 32 3106.80x
Huntspill 24 664.82x
Weston Super Mare 23 103.23x
Bethnal Green London 17 7.14x
Street 17 356.39x
Wedmore 17 296.17x
Ashcott 13 962.96x
Weare 13 1065.57x
Burnham 10 148.59x
Edington 10 1219.51x
Mark 10 485.44x
Shapwick 10 1204.82x
South Brent 10 671.14x
Lympsham 9 1046.51x
Burrington 8 941.18x
Cardiff St Mary 8 15.21x
East Brent 8 601.50x
Glastonbury 8 111.11x
Kewstoke 8 575.54x
Othery 8 740.74x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 6.91x
Cheddar 7 157.66x
Deptford St Paul 7 4.85x
Halesworth 7 147.99x
Portsea 7 3.18x
Badgworth 6 1132.08x
Bleadon 6 517.24x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 16.74x
Chorlton In Nantwich 6 3750.00x
Meare 6 226.42x
Pitminster 6 231.66x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 6.83x
Wardleworth 6 16.14x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 6 84.39x
Chilton Polden 5 757.58x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 5 25.42x
Horfield 5 46.21x
Islington London 5 0.94x
Kensington London 5 1.64x
Lower Machen 5 256.41x
Moorlinch Stawell 5 1515.15x
North Curry 5 166.67x
Ratcliffe London 5 16.51x
West Bromwich 5 4.72x
Axbridge 4 465.12x
Bawdrip 4 540.54x
Bedminster 4 4.82x
Clevedon 4 43.57x
Litchurch 4 11.58x
Nailsea 4 114.61x
Radyr 4 412.37x
Barnwood 3 208.33x
Breane 3 1071.43x
Camberwell 3 0.86x
Creech St Michael 3 136.36x
Mile End Old Town London 3 2.57x
St Marylebone London 3 1.02x
St Woollos 3 6.78x
Stoke Damerel 3 3.76x
Uphill 3 247.93x
Wellington 3 25.06x
Westonsuper Mare 3 166.67x
Worle 3 164.84x
Aberystruth 2 5.73x
Babcary 2 333.33x
Banwell 2 62.11x
Chapel Allerton 2 425.53x
Chew Stoke 2 152.67x
Great Malvern 2 13.39x
Hutton 2 307.69x
Lovington 2 526.32x
Royal Navy 2 3.58x
St Anne Soho London 2 6.39x
Stafford St Mary 2 7.63x
Colaton Raleigh 1 70.92x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 3.83x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 5.07x
Pawlett 1 100.00x
Stapleton 1 4.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Eliza 15
Sarah 14
Elizabeth 13
Ann 10
Ellen 10
Jane 10
Emma 9
Annie 7
Emily 7
Louisa 7
Martha 6
Agnes 5
Alice 5
Bertha 5
Caroline 5
Florence 5
Julia 5
Kate 5
Lucy 5
Rose 5
Anna 4
Hannah 4
Maria 4
Charlotte 3
Gertrude 3
Lily 3
Rosina 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Bessie 2
Catharine 2
Cora 2
Fanny 2
George 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Levina 2
Lizzie 2
Susannah 2
Catherine 1
Dorcas 1
E.H. 1
E.M. 1
E.S. 1
Edith 1
Edna 1
Honor 1
Jenny 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
John 26
Albert 18
George 17
James 17
Thomas 16
Charles 13
Walter 10
Frederick 9
Joseph 9
Frank 7
Sidney 7
Henry 6
Robert 5
Oliver 4
Anthony 3
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Christopher 3
Edward 3
Giles 3
Chas. 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Isaac 2
Samuel 2
Silas 2
Vincent 2
Addre 1
Alfred 1
Daniel 1
Dick 1
Edgar 1
Ezikle 1
F.W.S. 1
G.O. 1
Gabriel 1
J.R. 1
Jeptha 1
Jesse 1
Ladney 1
Luers 1
Malachi 1
Marlin 1
Mary 1
Mathew 1
Michael 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Durston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Durston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 562 people were recorded with the Durston surname. That placed it at #6,164 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Durston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 833 in 2016. That gives Durston a modern rank of #6,689.

What does the Durston surname mean?

An English place name referring to someone from Durston, Staffordshire.

What does the Durston map show?

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