DURELL
Durell
Origin and Meaning Durell is a British surname of Old French origin, derived from the medieval personal name 'Durel', itself originating from the Old French word 'dur', meaning 'hard' or 'unyielding'. The surname likely denoted someone with a tough or resilient personality.
Distribution and Historical Significance The surname Durell is relatively rare, with most documented instances found in the southern counties of England, particularly in Hampshire and Surrey. Early records of the Durell family date back to the 16th century, with notable individuals bearing the name gaining prominence in various fields such as literature, academia, and the arts.
Notable Individuals
- Lawrence Durrell (1912-1990): an esteemed British novelist, poet, dramatist, and travel writer, best known for his series, 'The Alexandria Quartet'.
- James Durell (b. 1965): a respected British academic specialising in environmental science and sustainable development.
- Eleanor Durell (1878-1954): a renowned British painter known for her landscapes and watercolours.
Variants Variants of the surname Durell include Durel, Dural, and Durrell. Over time, variations in spelling have emerged due to factors such as regional accents and clerical errors in official documentation.
Typical given names associated with the Durell surname
Male
- Charles
- David
- George
- Hugh
- James
- John
- Marcus
- Michael
- Paul
- Philip
- Richard
- Royston
- Stephen
Female
- Claire
- Diane
- Elizabeth
- Hannah
- Lisa
- Louise
- Mary
- Natalie
- Paula
- Pauline
- Sarah
- Sherilee
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Darrell
- Darel
- Darrel
- Darill
- Darle
- Darrall
- Durel
- Darral
- Darrill
- Darrol
- Darryl
- Daryl
- Daule
- Dawell
- Dawrell
- Dayrell
- Dearle
- Derrell
- Derrill
- Deurell
- Dewrall
- Dirrell
- Dorel
- Dorrall
- Dorrel
- Dorrell
- Dorrill
- Drell
- Dural
- Durall
- Durol
- Durrall
- Durrel
- Durrell
- Daarol
- Darell
- Dereli
- Dorell
- Durnell
- Duruel
- Darwell
- Terrill
- Tirrell
- Turrall
- Tyrrell
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Durell in...
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Morse
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There are approximately 261 people named Durell in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around four in a million people in Britain are named Durell.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Durell
- C. V. Durell - Schoolteacher (1882 to 1968)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.