Surname Durban - Meaning and Origin

Durban: What does the surname Durban mean?

The last name Durban is of French origin and means from or of Paris. The name derived from the city of Paris, capital of France, and is believed to have originated as a place name rather than a surname. The Durban family likely originated in Paris and later moved to other parts of France.

As with many French names, Durban is a patronymic name meaning “Son of Durban”, with the surname Durban derived from the old French given name “Dur” which was a short form of Durand. Dur was often used as a nickname in France and the form “Durban” could have developed as an abbreviation of the name Durand or Dur.

Today, the name is most commonly found in the Caribbean nations, particularly Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, where many individuals with French ancestry emigrated during the colonial period. The surname may also be found among French-Canadian descendants, mainly in Quebec. Additionally, the name is also found in India, where many individuals with French ancestry emigrated during the colonial period.

Overall, the name Durban has an interesting history that can tell us much about French immigration, culture, and history.

Durban: Where does the name Durban come from?

Durban is a surname that is most commonly associated with South Africa today. It is believed to have originated as a given name from the Middle English language, derived from the Old French "d'Urban" meaning "from the city" or "of urban heritage". This designation was given to people who were descended from nobles, royalty, or those of higher social class. As the surname became more widespread, it was used to refer to someone from any social class born in, or descended from, the city of Durban, South Africa.

In terms of modern-day Durban bearers, the surname is widely spread. In South Africa, it is most common in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, where it ranks as the 33rd most popular surname, but is also found throughout the country. Beyond South Africa, the surnames Durban is known to exist in the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the surname is uncommon, but can be found predominantly in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and California.

Outside of South Africa, name-holders of the Durban surname are spread out geographically and can be found in countries with significant migration paths from South Africa, including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States.

Variations of the surname Durban

The surname Durban is a French habitational name that originated from the Northern France, and is derived from 'de l'herbe banie,' which means 'from the sown herb.' Variations and alternate spellings of the surname 'Durban' may include Durbanne, Deurbann, Deurbans, Deurband, Deurbanne, Durbans, and Durbonne. These variations could also be used as surnames such as Waltdurbans, Durbandale, Durbanland, and Durbaneau.

The complexities of language evolution, as well as immigration and geographical movement, can lead to distinct variations in spelling, phonetics, and pronunciation of any surname. Thus, variations like Durbane, Dirbain, Durwin, Derband, and Durbayne can also be regarded as other transliterations of the same name.

Due to the history of colonialism, it is not uncommon for surnames to be changed for the purpose of anglicization. In this case, the surname Durban could also become 'Durrin' or 'Deren'. This could be seen in the French-American immigrant population who changed their surname to blend in with local cultures, thus creating a distinct form of the original Durban.

Most of the time, the name Durban continues to be passed down within families, carrying with it its true pronunciations, spellings, and variations. This name is often used interchangeably among family members who may choose to use different variations of the same name. However, these variations may vary depending on the region, culture, and language of the family.

Famous people with the name Durban

• Alexander Durban: Singer-songwriter, composer and producer
• Mackenzie Durban: Actor, best known for her roles in The Least of These and Failed States
• Jeff Durban: American Christian singer-songwriter
• Chris Durban: Former president of the Screen Actors Guild
• Pete Durban: American professional basketball player
• Michael Durban: American professional golfer
• Gillian Durban: Voice actress, best known for roles in various video games such as Final Fantasy X-2 and Bravely Default
• Lesley Durban: Young adult fiction author
• Xavier Durban: Special effects artist, best known for his work on films such as Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
• Terrance Durban: Jazz saxophonist and composer

Other surnames

Durbahn