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

Durrah, 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 Durrah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Durrah in America

Durrah is the 32599th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Durrah surname appeared 705 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 Durrah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Durrah 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 Durrah

The surname Durrah is believed to have origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabic-speaking regions. It is derived from the Arabic word "durrah," which means "pearl" or "gem." The name likely originated in the Arabian Peninsula during the medieval period, when pearl fishing and trading were significant economic activities in the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Durrah can be found in historical records from the 13th century, during the Mamluk Sultanate era in Egypt and the Levant. The name appears in various manuscripts and documents from that time, often associated with prominent families or individuals involved in pearl trading or related industries.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Ahmad al-Durrah (born around 1420) was a renowned scholar and historian from Damascus, Syria. His works, including a comprehensive history of the city, provide valuable insights into the cultural and social landscape of the region during that period.

During the Ottoman Empire era, which spanned from the 14th to the early 20th century, the surname Durrah was prevalent in various parts of the empire, including present-day Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. Historical records from this period mention individuals with the Durrah surname holding positions of importance within the Ottoman administrative and military ranks.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure named Muhammad al-Durrah (born in 1835) was a reformist thinker and philosopher from Cairo, Egypt. His works focused on modernizing Islamic thought and reconciling it with Western ideologies, making him a influential figure in the intellectual circles of his time.

Another notable individual with the surname Durrah was Salim al-Durrah (1891-1976), a Palestinian Arab leader and activist who played a significant role in the Arab nationalist movement during the British Mandate period in Palestine. He was a prominent figure in the resistance against the establishment of the State of Israel and was involved in various political and military efforts.

While the surname Durrah has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the Arabic-speaking regions, where it has a rich historical significance associated with pearl trading, scholarship, and political and intellectual movements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Durrah

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

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

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

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