Contents [hide]

Durrant History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Durrant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Italy
Scotland

The distinguished surname Durrant was first brought to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name is patronymic in origin, signifying "the son of Durant," an Old French personal name. Looking at records from this time, we found Geoffry, Roger and Henry Durant who claimed descent from Normandy c. 1180-95 1 while another census in 1198, lists Aceline, Ralph, Richard, and Robert Durant. 2

Early Origins of the Durrant family

The surname Durrant was first found in Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and Shropshire at Tong, a parish, in the union of Shiffnall, Shiffnall division of the hundred of Brimstree. "Tong Castle, the seat of the family of Durant, a magnificent mansion remodelled in the last century, is crowned with numerous turrets, pinnacles, and eight lofty domes, producing a striking effect: it contains many valuable pictures and cabinets." 3

The Domesday Book of 1086 has the first record of the family. Durandus, the Latin form of the name in use at that time was registered in Winton, Hampshire as holding lands there at that time. 4

Another branch of the family were found at Wallingswells in the West Riding of Yorkshire. "In excavating near the house [of Sir Thomas Woolaston White], in 1829, several stone coffins were found, and amongst them that of Dame Margery Dourant, second abbess of the convent, who died in the reign of Richard I ([1189-1199)]." 3

And yet another branch of the family was found in Cornwall. "The manor of Lanestock, which is partly in the parish [of St. Austell], and partly in Tywardreath, has of late years passed under the same title as Trenance Austell. This was anciently in the family of Durant, from whom it passed into that of the Arundells of Trerice in Newlyn. The manor of Thorlebear [in the parish of Launcells, Cornwall] was formerly the property of the Durants, by whose heiress it was carried in marriage to the Arundells of Trerice." 5

Early History of the Durrant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Durrant research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1140, 1296, 1564, 1578, 1631, 1644, 1660 and 1715 are included under the topic Early Durrant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Durrant Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Durrant family name include Durand, Durant, Durande, Durrane, Dant, Dante and many more.

Early Notables of the Durrant family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Drant (d. 1578?), English divine and poet, born at Hagworthingham in Lincolnshire, son of Thomas Drant. "On the occasion of Queen Elizabeth's visit to the university in August 1564 he composed copies of English, Latin, and Greek verses, which he presented to her majesty. " 6John Durnat...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Durrant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Durrant Ranking

In the United States, the name Durrant is the 10,776^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7

Durrant migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Durrant family to immigrate North America:

Durrant Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Durrant, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 8

Durrant Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Durrant, who settled in Maryland in 1774

Durrant Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Durrant, who arrived in New York in 1846 8

Durrant Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Horace W Durrant, who landed in Mississippi in 1905 8

Durrant migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Durrant Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Samuel Durrant, who landed in Canada in 1832

Durrant migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Durrant Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Maria Durrant, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 14th July 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Thomas Durrant, English convict who was convicted in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1843 10
James Durrant, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Isabella Watson" in 1846 11
David Durrant, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Branken Moor" in 1849 12
Miss. Sarah Ann Durrant, English convict who was convicted in Norwich, Norfolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baretto Junior" on 5th April 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Durrant migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Durrant Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Durrant, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 14
Mr. Elisha Durrant, British settler, as the 2nd Detachment of New Zealand Corps of Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Minerva" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1847 15
F. Durrant, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Golconda" in 1859
James Durrant, aged 45, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waimea" in 1876
Mary Durrant, aged 45, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waimea" in 1876
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Durrant migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16

Durrant Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Thomas Durrant arrived with his wife and servants in Barbados in 1680

Contemporary Notables of the name Durrant (post 1700) +

Devin George Durrant (b. 1960), retired American professional basketball player who played for the Indiana Pacers and the Phoenix Suns from 1984 to 1985
William James Durrant, American historian, philosopher and teacher
Winnie Durrant, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 2000 17
Joyce Durrant, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Utah, 1996 17
H. W. Durrant, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Mississippi, 1908 17
Sir William Alexander Estridge Durrant (b. 1929), 8th Baronet of Scottow, Norfolk, English peer
Sir William Henry Estridge Durrant (1901-1994), 7th Baronet of Scottow, Norfolk, English peer
Sir William Henry Estridge Durrant (1872-1953), 6th Baronet of Scottow, Norfolk, English peer
Sir William Robert Estridge Durrant (1840-1912), 5th Baronet of Scottow, Norfolk, English peer
Sir Henry Josias Durrant (1838-1875), 4th Baronet of Scottow, Norfolk, English peer
... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Durrant family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. James Durrant (1890-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 18
Mrs. Frances Durrant (1884-1914), née King Canadian Third Class Passenger from Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 18

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fanny
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ISABELLA WATSON 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846IsabellaWatson.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The BRANKEN MOOR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849BrankenMoor.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baretto-junior
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html