Contents [hide]

Durant History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Durant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Italy
Scotland

The distinguished surname Durant 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 Durant family

The surname Durant 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 Durant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Durant 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 Durant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Durant Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Durant include Durand, Durant, Durande, Durrane, Dant, Dante and many more.

Early Notables of the Durant 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. " 6 John Durnat...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Durant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Durant Ranking

In the United States, the name Durant is the 2,471^st most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 7 However, in France, the name Durant is ranked the 395^th most popular surname with an estimated 10,756 people with that name. 8

Durant migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Durants to arrive on North American shores:

Durant Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Durant, who arrived in Maryland in 1648 9
Jo Durant, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 9
Tho Durant, who landed in Virginia in 1654 9
George Durant, who arrived in North Carolina in 1661 9
An Durant, who arrived in Virginia in 1665 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Durant Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Geo Peter Durant, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1741 9

Durant Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Durant, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1822 9
Thomas Durant, who arrived in New York, NY in 1827 9
Domingo Durant, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 9
Emanuel Durant, aged 45, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1851 9
Gabriel Durant, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1854 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Durant migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Durant Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Jean Durant, aged 21, who landed in Canada in 1657
Mr. Jean Durant, French labourer travelling to Canada to work for Antoine Grignon, Pierre Gaigneur, and Jacques Massé, arriving on 3rd March 1657 10

Durant Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. William Durie U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 11

Durant migration to Australia +

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

Durant Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Durant, English convict who was convicted in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Susannah Durant, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "David Malcolm" in 1847 13

Durant 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:

Durant Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Elizabeth Durant, (b. 1833), aged 32, Cornish settler departing on 17th April 1865 aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 14
Miss Elizabeth Durant, (b. 1864), aged 7 months, Cornish settler departing on 17th April 1865 aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 14
Miss Margaret Durant, (b. 1863), aged 2, Cornish settler departing on 17th April 1865 aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 14
Mr. Thomas Durant, (b. 1834), aged 31, Cornish blacksmith departing on 17th April 1865 aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 14
Mr. Thomas Durant, (b. 1861), aged 4, Cornish settler departing on 17th April 1865 aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Durant (post 1700) +

William James Durant (1885-1981), American author who shared the 1968 Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction with his wife Ariel and later was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ford in 1977
William Crapo "Billy" Durant (1861-1947), American leading pioneer of the United States automobile industry, founder of General Motors and Chevrolet
Ariel Durant (1898-1981), American author who shared the 1968 Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction with her husband Will and later was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ford in 1977
Kenneth W. Durant (1919-1942), United States Navy sailor killed in action on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 3 November 1942, eponym of the USS Durant (DE-389)
Joseph Scott Durant (b. 1964), American professional PGA golfer
Michael J. "Mike" Durant (b. 1961), American pilot and author who was held prisoner for eleven days in 1993, recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star with Valor Device, Purple Heart, and many other honors
Don Durant (1932-2005), born Donald Allison Durae, an American actor and singer, best known for his role as the gunslinger-turned-sheriff in the CBS Western series Johnny Ringo (1959-1960)
Darian Bernard Durant (b. 1982), American CFL quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Thomas Clark Durant (1820-1885), American financier and railroad promoter, vice-president of the Union Pacific in 1869
Kevin Wayne Durant (b. 1988), American professional NBA basketball player
... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Durant family +

HMS Dorsetshire

Bryan Cecil Durant, British Lieutenant Commander Navigation aboard the HMS Dorsetshire (1945) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 15

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/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Debien, Gabriel. Liste Des Engagés Pour Le Canada Au XVIIe Siècle. Vol. 6, Laval University, 1952. (Retreived 24th May 2018). Retrieved from https://lebloguedeguyperron.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/130-liste-des-contrats-dengagement-pour-la-nouvelle-france-releves-a-la-rochelle-entre-1634-et-1679/
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DAVID MALCOLM 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847DavidMalcolm.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html