Show ContentsDurrett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The German state of Bavaria is the ancestral home of the Durrett family. Durrett is a local name. Durrett is a name for someone who lived on a dry, barren land. The name Durrett is derived from the Old German word durri and the German word dürre, which mean barren or infertile.

Early Origins of the Durrett family

The surname Durrett was first found in Franconia, where the name Duerer could be considered to make a great early contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of early development of Europe. The name became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the tribal and national conflicts, each group seeking power and status in an ever changing territorial profile.

Early History of the Durrett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Durrett research. Another 179 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1471, 1528, 1690, 1784 and 1856 are included under the topic Early Durrett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Durrett Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Durrett include Durr, Duerer, Duere, Duerr, Duer, Dur, Durre, Duerre, Dueren, Duerman and many more.

Early Notables of the Durrett family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Durrett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Durrett Ranking

In the United States, the name Durrett is the 6,708th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


United States Durrett migration to the United States +

European migration to North America began in the mid-17th century and continued unabated until the mid-20th. Many Bavarians made the long trip to escape poverty or persecution based on their religious beliefs. The chance for tenant farmers to own their own land was also a major drawing card. They settled all across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many came to Canada also, settling in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Durretts to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Durrett Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Eugene Durrett, aged 57, who landed in America, in 1913

Contemporary Notables of the name Durrett (post 1700) +

  • Liz Durrett (b. 1977), American singer-songwriter
  • Charles Durrett, American architect and author in Nevada City, California
  • Peter Durrett (1733-1823), American slave and Baptist preacher who with his wife founded the First African Baptist Church of Lexington, Kentucky by 1790
  • Kenneth L. Durrett (1948-2001), American professional NBA basketball player
  • Richard Timothy Durrett, American mathematician known for his research and books on mathematical probability theory, stochastic processes
  • Larry K. Durrett, American Republican politician, Candidate for Texas State House of Representatives 11th District, 2006 2
  • Kenneth Durrett, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Texas State House of Representatives 11th District, 2000 2
  • John Durrett Craddock (1881-1942), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kentucky, 1924; U.S. Representative from Kentucky 4th District, 1929-31; Defeated, 1930 3
  • John Durrett Craddock (1881-1942), American politician, U.S. Representative from Kentucky
  • Hubert Durrett Stephens (1875-1946), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Mississippi 2nd District, 1911-21; U.S. Senator from Mississippi, 1923-35 4


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 5) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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