Surname Durnin - Meaning and Origin

Durnin: What does the surname Durnin mean?

The last name Durnin was derived from an Irish surname ‘Ó Duirnin’ which means the descendant of Duirnin’, deriving from the Irish word ‘dorn’ or ‘dornan’ which refers to a little fist. It is believed to have been a nickname for a person who was strong and determined.

The name Durnin is most commonly found in Northern Ireland and Scotland, indicating a possible Scottish-Irish origin, perhaps indicating descent from an ancient Irish tribe. The original meaning of the name is also echoed in the modern surname given to numerous clans of northern Ireland and Scotland.

Historically, the name was also probably first given to an ancestor who exhibited admirable traits of strength and perseverance, which would have been highly sought-after qualities amongst a highly contested and hostile landscape. One possible example of such a person of this name is researcher David Durnin, who is credited with the ‘Body Mass Index’ (BMI) often used today in determining one’s health.

At a glance, the name Durnin evokes strong images and connotations of strength and determination, characteristics which may have been embodied by many with this surname throughout hundreds of years.

Durnin: Where does the name Durnin come from?

The last name Durnin is of Irish origin and was first found in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. Today, the last name Durnin is still common among Irish people living in the Tyrone region as well as other parts of Ireland. In more recent decades, the use of the last name in families of Irish descent has spread to the United States and other countries around the world.

The most popular areas in the U.S. for the Durnin surname are the Northeast and Midwest, including Massachusetts, New York, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois. Durnin is also relatively common in the United Kingdom, particularly in the counties of Hampshire, Devon, and Cornwall.

The highest concentration of the Durnin surname is still in Northern Ireland, however, where thousands of individuals with the last name still reside today. In addition to the United States and the UK, other countries with substantial populations of individuals bearing the Durnin last name include Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Durnin

The surname Durnin is of Irish origin. It sometimes appears as Durnan, Doirnin, D'Ernin and even O'Durnin. All of these variations stem from a root name ‘Ó Doirnín’, which is of Gaelic origin and means ‘little O’Dornan’.

The spelling of Doirnin is even rarer in contemporary sources, with most families having adopted the spelling of Durnin. The prefix ‘Ó’ added in front of the second part, Doirnin, has been dropped over the years.

The variants Dernan, Durnan and D'Ernin are alternative interpretations of the same root name. D’Ernin breaks the Gaelic ‘Ó’ part of ‘Ó Doirnín’, and replaces it with ‘D’Ernin’. While Durnan and Dernan could be modifications of this spelling of ‘Ó Doirnín’.

Throughout the Early Modern period of Ireland, records show that the surname Durnin was a common-place reference among many Irish families. In Kerry, there appears to have been considerable concentration of the name. Here, the name was often referred to as O’Durnin.

In Scotland, the name has changed to Dunnan. Yet other interpretations of the name have been recorded, including Dorney, MacDurnan, Donnelly, Durney, and even East-Dorney.

Altogether, the surname Durnin has many variations of spelling and surname derivations all stemming from the same root name ‘Ó Doirnín’. Variants range in spelling from MacDurnan to O’Durnin, to Durney to Dunnan – many of which may be encountered in both Irish and Scottish records.

Famous people with the name Durnin

• Emma Durnin: Emma Durnin is an actress from Ireland. She has appeared in several movies and television shows throughout Europe.
• Marcus Durnin: Marcus Durnin is a British actor known for appearances in "Emmerdale," "Birds of a Feather" and "Cold Feet."
• Bridget Durnin: Bridget Durnin is an Irish actress best known for her roles in "Father Ted" and the Irish Channel 4 drama "Red Rock."
• Aisling Durnin: Aisling Durnin is an Irish musician and singer-songwriter. She has released two solo albums and has opened for artists such as John Butler and Brett Dennen.
• Brian Durnin: Brian Durnin is a former Irish hurler who played for the Antrim senior team for 15 years and won two All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships.
• Benny Durnin: Benny Durnin is a former Irish Gaelic football player who played for the Donegal senior team from 1976 to 1989.
• Cian Durnin: Cian Durnin is an Irish professional footballer currently playing for Bohemians FC in the Airtricity League Premier Division.
• Zachery Durnin: Zachery Durnin is an American professional lacrosse player with the Denver Outlaws of the Premier Lacrosse League.
• Roisin Dubh Durnin: Roisin Dubh Durnin is a contemporary Irish harpist and singer who releases her own music and has collaborated with renowned Irish groups such as Altan and the Chieftains.

Other surnames

Durnian