Durning
An English surname derived from the Old English word "durning" meaning "bold" or "daring."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,028 Americans carry the last name Durning. That puts it at #26,975 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.30 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 333,419 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Durning surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.0K
1 in 333,419
Census rank
#26,975
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
899
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 899 bearers of the surname Durning in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.30 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 26975th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Durning, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Black (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Durning
The surname Durning is believed to have originated in England, deriving from the Old English word "dyrnan," which means "to hide" or "to conceal." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived or worked in a secluded or hidden place.
The earliest recorded instances of the Durning name date back to the 13th century, with variations in spelling such as Dernynge, Derning, and Durnynge appearing in various historical records and documents from that period. One notable early reference is found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which mentions a John de Dernynge.
In the Middle Ages, the Durning surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. Some early bearers of the name were associated with places like Durning's Heath in Gloucestershire, which may have contributed to the development of the surname.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Durning surname was Thomas Durning, who was born around 1350 in Worcestershire. He is mentioned in the Worcestershire County Records as a landowner and freeman.
Another notable figure was Sir John Durning, a wealthy merchant and alderman from London, who lived from 1592 to 1670. He was a prominent figure in the City of London and served as the Lord Mayor in 1643.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Durning family established themselves as prominent landowners and gentry in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire.
In the 18th century, William Durning (1707-1785) was a notable English lawyer and Member of Parliament, representing the borough of Cricklade in Wiltshire.
Another prominent figure was Sir Walter Durning (1806-1888), a British politician and industrialist who served as the Member of Parliament for Penryn and Falmouth in Cornwall.
Throughout its history, the Durning surname has been associated with various locations and place names, such as Durning's Heath in Gloucestershire, Durning's Farm in Somerset, and Durning's Meadow in Worcestershire, reflecting the family's presence and influence in these areas.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Durning
Among Census respondents with the surname Durning, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Black (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Durning bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Durning surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.2%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Black or African American2.1%
- Unknown or suppressed1.2%
- Two or more races1.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Durning surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #27,413 | #26,975 | 1.6% |
| Count | 828 | 899 | 8.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.31 | 0.30 | -3.2% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Durning bearers went from 828 to 899 (+8.6% change). The surname moved up 438 positions in the national ranking, going from #27,413 to #26,975.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Durning
FAQ
Durning surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Durning?
The surname Durning holds position #26,975 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,028 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.30 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Durning surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Durning, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Black (2.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.