Derrance
A masculine French name derived from the Latin "terrans", meaning "of the earth".
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Derrance. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Derrance today is around 41 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Derrance births was 1983 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Derrance. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Derrance. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1983
8 babies that year
Average age
41
years old
1983 SSA rank
#4,610
Tracked since 1983
Popularity
Derrance: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Derrance by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Derrance during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8 | 0 | 8 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Derrance
The given name Derrance is an English variant of the French name Durand, which originated from the Old French word "durant" or "duran," meaning "enduring" or "lasting." This name has its roots in the Latin word "durans," which also carries a similar meaning of endurance or permanence.
The earliest recorded use of the name Derrance can be traced back to medieval England, where it was likely introduced by Norman settlers after the conquest of 1066. During this period, French names and influences were widely adopted by the English nobility and commoners alike.
One of the earliest mentions of the name Derrance can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical record lists several individuals bearing variations of the name, such as Durandus and Durandius.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Derrance was particularly popular among the knightly class and the nobility. It was often associated with valor, strength, and resilience, qualities that were highly prized in medieval society.
One notable figure who bore the name Derrance was Derrance of Arles, a 12th-century troubadour and poet from Provence, France. His works were highly influential in the development of courtly love poetry and the Occitan language.
Another historical figure was Sir Derrance de Lacy, an English knight who fought alongside King Richard I during the Third Crusade in the late 12th century. De Lacy was renowned for his bravery and loyalty, and his name became synonymous with chivalry and honor.
In the 13th century, Derrance de Montfort was a prominent French nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars in southern France. His exploits were chronicled in various historical accounts of the time.
During the Renaissance period, the name Derrance was also associated with artistic and literary circles. Derrance de Vinci, an Italian painter and sculptor from the 15th century, was a contemporary and friend of the renowned artist Leonardo da Vinci.
In the realm of literature, Derrance Chaucer was an English poet and author who lived in the late 14th century. He is renowned for his influential works, such as "The Canterbury Tales," which are considered masterpieces of Middle English literature.
People
Derrance + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Derrance as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Derrance: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Derrance?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Derrance going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Derrance a common name?
We classify Derrance as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 8 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Derrance most popular?
The single biggest year for Derrance was 1983, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Derrance is about 41 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Derrance in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Derrance a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Derrance in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Derrance still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Derrance in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Derrance can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Derrance?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.