Show ContentsDoreen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Doreen Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Doreen

What does the name Doreen mean?

The distinguished surname Doreen 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 Doreen family

The surname Doreen was first found in 1066 where the Latin form of the name, Durandus was listed at Winton, Hampshire. 3 Later in Hampshire, we found Robertus filius Durand listed in 1115. As a forename, Doraunt de Moreby was listed as a Freeman of York in 1312. Robert Duraund was recorded in the Assize Rolls of Warwickshire in 1221 and John Durnat was found in the Curia Regis Rolls for Surrey in 1222. Over in Worcestershire, Robert Duran was found in the Subsidy Rolls in 1275. A few years later, William Doraunt was a Freeman of York in 1285. 2

The Doreen family were well established 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 remodeled 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." 4

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. 3

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)]." 4

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 Doreen family

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

Doreen Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Durand, Durant, Durande, Durrane, Dant, Dante and many more.

Early Notables of the Doreen family

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 or Durance (fl. 1660), was an English Puritan...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Doreen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Doreen migration to Australia +

Doreen Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Hugh Doreen, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Oriental,"

Doreen 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:

Doreen Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Peter Doreen, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bengal Merchant 7
  • Peter jun Doreen, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bengal Merchant 7
  • Thomas Doreen, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bengal Merchant 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Doreen (post 1700) +

  • Mary Doreen Archer DBE (b. 1944), Baroness Archer of Weston-super-Mare, née Weeden, British scientist specialising in solar power conversion
  • Jessica Doreen Degenhardt (b. 2002), German luger, a four-time Junior World Champion and won gold medal at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics at doubles' race and silver medal at the individual race
  • Mary Doreen Weeden DBE (b. 1944), birth name of Mary Doreen Archer, Baroness Archer, British scientist specialising in solar power conversion
  • Gillian Doreen Triggs (b. 1945), Australian public international lawyer and academic, professor at the University of Sydney, Dean of the Sydney Law School (2007 to 2012)
  • Doreen Barbara Massey FRSA, FBA, FAcSS, (1944-2016), British social scientist and geographer
  • Doreen Yarwood (1919-1999), née Cawthra, an English historian of clothing, interiors and architecture, born in Yorkshire
  • Doreen Wilson Lofthouse OBE (1930-2021), née Cowell, a British businesswoman who married into the Lofthouse family and, with her husband Alan, opened a chemist's shop, they developed the lozenge Fisherman's Friend, in liquid form and later the solid lozenge format was based on the buttons on one of her dresses
  • Doreen Elizabeth Massey (1938-2024), Baroness Massey of Darwen, British life peer and member of the House of Lords
  • Doreen Mantle (1926-2023), South African-born British actress, best known for her role as Jean Warboys in One Foot in the Grave (1990–2000)
  1. 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)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  6. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  7. Shadow Time Settlers (Retrieved 5th November 2010), retrieved from http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/settlers.html

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