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

Derring, 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 Derring surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Derring in America

Derring is the 75564th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Derring surname appeared 255 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Derring.

We can also compare 2010 data for Derring to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Derring

The surname Derring is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "dyrran," which means "to dare" or "to be bold." This suggests that the name was originally a nickname given to someone who exhibited courage or bravery.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to 1273, when a John Derring was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire. This official record of landowners and tenants in England provides valuable insights into the geographical distribution of surnames during that time period.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various historical documents, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire (1327) and the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire (1380). These records indicate that the Derring family was well-established in the West Midlands region of England.

One notable figure bearing the surname Derring was Sir Edward Derring (1598-1644), an English soldier and politician who served as a Royalist commander during the English Civil War. He played a significant role in the Siege of Bristol in 1643 and was later killed in action at the Battle of Copredy Bridge.

Another notable individual was Thomas Derring (1669-1738), an English clergyman and author. He served as the rector of Upminster in Essex and published several works, including a translation of the ancient Greek play "Oedipus Tyrannus" by Sophocles.

In the 18th century, the Derring family had established a presence in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Essex. One prominent member was John Derring (1720-1795), a successful merchant and landowner who lived in Gloucestershire.

The name Derring has also been associated with several place names, such as Derring's Bridge in Gloucestershire and Derring's Wood in Essex. These locations likely derived their names from individuals or families with the surname Derring who resided in or owned land in those areas.

While the surname Derring is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including soldiers, clergymen, merchants, and landowners.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Derring

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

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 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Derring was:

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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Derring has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Derring was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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