The Durham Family History

What Does the Durham Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Durham is of English origin, deriving from the Old English and Norse words ‘dun’ and ‘holmr’ or ‘holme,’ which collectively signify a hilly island. Variations of the surname include Durrame, Dirom, and Durehame. In England, the distribution of the Durham surname is widespread, with significant concentrations found in Durham, Yorkshire, the city of London, Middlesex, Somerset, and Lanarkshire. In Scotland, the name has its roots in the Dumfries-shire area and subsequently expanded into regions such as Lanarkshire, Midlothian, Stirlingshire, Renfrewshire, Wigtownshire, and East Lothian. In the United States, families bearing the surname Durham can be traced back to North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York. Notable individuals with the surname include Judith Durham, an Australian singer; Ray Durham, a professional baseball player; Bartlett S. Durham, a 19th-century physician who contributed land for the establishment of Durham, North Carolina; Rhea Durham, a fashion model; Jim Durham, a sports broadcaster; Bobby Durham, a musician; David Anthony Durham, a novelist; and Leon Durham, also a professional baseball player.