Surname Durgee - Meaning and Origin
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Durgee: What does the surname Durgee mean?
The last name Durgee is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English words “durg” meaning “thorn” and “eg” meaning “island”. The name was likely first applied to a person who lived on an islet of thorns or on an area near a body of water known as a ridge, where thorny plants were abundant.
The name is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as de Curgian and in 1214 as Durgh. It then appears in Records of the High Court of Chivalry as d'Ergh in 1302 and de Ergh in 1324. Later on, variants such as Durgham, Durgh and Dirghe become more common.
Durgee is one of the rarer variations of the surname, and it is thought to be specific to the area of Yorkshire where the branch of the family originated. Its presence there is explained by the substantial Viking settlement in the area during the Middle Ages, and the influence of the Northern dialect on the local language. As a result,Durgee is likely a convergence between the Old Norse “dur” meaning “door” and “igi” meaning “island”.
The durgee surname is believed to represent a family with a long history and strong ties to the Yorkshire area, and whose ancestors were proud representatives of the region.
Order DNA origin analysisDurgee: Where does the name Durgee come from?
The last name Durgee is most commonly found in the United States. It is most heavily concentrated in the northeastern states, though smaller numbers can be found in other parts of the US. It is also found in small numbers in other countries, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
According to the US Census Bureau, the surnameranked 26449th out of 88,799 in popularity in 2000, making it one of the least common last names in the United States. Today the last name is still relatively uncommon, though with the descent of many immigrants to the US, it is likely becoming more prevalent.
In the US, the most common location to find Durgee’s is in the northeastern states of New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey, as well as the neighboring state of Pennsylvania and the eastern parts of Ohio. About a quarter of the US population with Durgee last name are concentrated in this northeast region.
The last name has multiple origins. In New England, many of the Durgee's are descendants of English settlers having arrived in the 17th century, while others are from French families that immigrated to the US in the late 19th century. In other parts of the US, Durgee's are often either Irish or German, having arrived to the US in the late 19th or early 20th centuries.
Though not a common last name, there are still many people with Durgee last name living in the US, providing postings in online forums from people with the surname. This includes events for people with the same last name to get together and show appreciation for their shared heritage.
Variations of the surname Durgee
The surname Durgee can be spelled in a variety of ways, including Durgie, Durgy, Durgye, Durgie, Durgee, Durgy and Dirgee. All of these variants share a common roots in the English language where by the original meaning of the surname was derived from the Old English word ‘duru’ meaning ‘door’.
The surname has also been associated with several other regional and cultural variations. In the Irish language, the spelling of the surname could also be represented as Dirgie, while in Scottish Gaelic the spelling could be Doireag. Similarly, an archaic form of the same word could be spelled as ‘Duroug’.
In terms of additional variation the surname has also been linked to other families of the same name whose ancestors originated from different regions of the world. Some of these surnames include as Dirgo, Dergee, Dergay, Dirgier and Durgyt.
Despite the various spellings and cultural variations of the Durgee surname, there is still a common link between them. The original meaning of the surname is maintained in each variant, ensuring that its cultural heritage remains a constant and uniting feature among the extended family of the Durgee surname.
Famous people with the name Durgee
- Doug Durgee: former president of NBC Sports and current president of the Southern Auto Racing Heritage Foundation
- Allyn Durgee: Colonel in the United States Army, former military attaché to Iraq, and a contestant on the reality TV show Survivor
- Dave Durgee: basketball coach who has coached at both the collegiate and professional levels
- Dan Durgee: professional powerboat racer and founder of Performance Boat Center
- Dick Durgee: American mountaineer and National Outdoor Leadership School instructor
- John Durgee: former college basketball coach at the University of New Hampshire
- Eva Durgee: professional ballerina
- Laurie Durgee: CEO of the professionals training guide Thinkers Inc.
- Paul Durgee: Multi-talented musician who has written, performed, and recorded music for film, television, and documentaries
- Sara Durgee: nationally-renowned equestrian trainer with over 40 years of experience in the equine industry