Durden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the name Durden date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Durden family lived in the village of Dearden in the county of Lancashire.

Early Origins of the Durden family

The surname Durden was first found in Lancashire at Dearden, near Edenfield, Bury 1 where the name derives from the Old English word "deor" meaning "deer," and "denu", which meant "valley," collectively meaning "the valley of the deer."

Early History of the Durden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Durden research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1130 and 1281 are included under the topic Early Durden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Durden Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Durden are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Durden include: Dearden, Deardens, Durden, Dureden, Deardon and many more.

Early Notables of the Durden family

More information is included under the topic Early Durden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Durden Ranking

In the United States, the name Durden is the 3,958^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2

Durden migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Durden or a variant listed above:

Durden Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

James Durden, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 3

Durden Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Ernest Joseph Durden, aged 23, who landed in America from Croydon, England, in 1905
Harry P. Durden, aged 27, who landed in America, in 1908
John W. Durden, aged 25, who settled in America from Wigan, England, in 1908
Mary E. Durden, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Wigan, England, in 1908
Thomas Durden, aged 3, who immigrated to America from Wigan, England, in 1908
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Durden migration to Australia +

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

Durden Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Durden, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "British Empire" 4
James Durden, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "British Empire" in 1850 4
Esther Durden, aged 21, a housemaid, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Epaminondas" 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Durden (post 1700) +

William G. Durden, President of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Reggie Durden (b. 1976), American-born, former Canadian Football League defensive back
Brandon Durden (b. 1984), American Minor League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher
Benji Durden (b. 1951), American coach of elite runners, member of the 1980 Summer Olympics team
James P. Durden, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Illinois 1st District, 1938 6
A. N. Durden, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Georgia, 1940 6
Jonathan Durden (b. 1957), English millionaire, businessman, and journalist

The Durden Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Dum Spiro Spero
Motto Translation: While I have breath I hope.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BRITISH EMPIRE 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850BritishEmpire.htm
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) EPAMINONDAS 1852. Retrieved www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/epaminondas1852.shtml
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html