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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: