Daren last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Daren is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Daren.

Meaning of Daren

Derived from the Old English 'daru' meaning wound or injury and 'en' as a diminutive suffix, suggesting ancestors with a small wound.

Daren, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Daren surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Daren in America

Daren is the 146011th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Daren surname appeared 104 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Daren.

The history of the last name Daren

The surname Daren has its origins primarily in England, emerging during the medieval period. It is believed to be largely locational, derived from the Old English elements "deor" meaning "deer" and "denu" meaning "valley," thus suggesting that the original bearers of the name lived in or near a valley frequented by deer. This connection with a specific geographic feature indicates that the name would have originated in the rural countryside, possibly in the southern regions of England where such valleys were common.

One notable early reference to the name Daren can be traced to the Domesday Book of 1086, a manuscript record of the "Great Survey" of much of England and parts of Wales completed by order of William the Conqueror. In this record, there is mention of a "Darewyn," indicating an early form of the surname that evolved into Daren over the centuries.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Daren appears in parish records from the 13th century. A figure of note is Richard de Daren, born circa 1250 and recorded in the Herefordshire rolls, highlighting the surname's presence in the region. His descendants subsequently spread throughout England, with variations in spelling due to the phonetic transcription prevalent during the medieval era.

Another prominent historical figure is Thomas Daren, who lived from 1380 to 1445. He was a minor noble in Gloucestershire and known for his involvement in local governance. His participation in the Hundred Years' War adds a martial association to the surname during this period.

By the 16th century, the surname had appeared in various forms including Darin and Darenne. Elizabeth Daren, born around 1552 and a notable figure due to her marriage into the influential Percy family, highlights the surname's continued integration into English society. Her descendants played roles in the courtly and political life of the Elizabethan era.

In the early 18th century, John Daren, born in 1702 in Kent, became well-known for his work in the burgeoning textile industry, contributing to the industrial revolution. His innovations in fabric production paved the way for future advancements.

Another noteworthy figure is Samuel Daren, born in 1765 in Devon. He became a respected clergyman and author, contributing significantly to the theological discussions of his time with several published works on Christian doctrine.

The surname Daren, with its roots deeply embedded in English history and etymology, showcases a lineage that intertwined with the social, economic, and political fabric of medieval and early modern England. From rural origins symbolized by the deer valley to influential figures in various fields, the name Daren has maintained a distinguished presence through the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Daren

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Daren.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Daren was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 76.92% 80
Non-Hispanic Black Only 16.35% 17
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 5.77% 6

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Daren was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Daren, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Daren last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 10, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/daren-surname-popularity/.

"Daren last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/daren-surname-popularity/. Accessed 10 May, 2025

Daren last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/daren-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.