Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.
DURHAM
There are approximately 5,850 people named Durham in the UK. That makes it the 1,788th most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 93 are named Durham.
Region of origin
British Isles
Country of origin
England
Language of origin
English
Religion of origin
Christian
Classification
English
Location or Geographical Feature
Related and similar surnames
DerhamDerheim
Ddurham
Daurham
Dirham
Darham
Derhame
Derhham
Deirham
Deerham
Dirhame
Derrham
Dearham
Dierham
Dareham
Dairham
Derhamme
Dauham
Derhami
Derhem
Darhem
Daurheim
The Durham surname in historical dictionaries
An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)
(origin: Local) According to Bailey, this word is derived from the Saxon Dun and holm, a town in a wood. It seems rather to come from the British Dour, water, and holm, land surrounded mostly by water. It may be derived from Doire, which, in the British and Celtic, signifies a woody place, abounding in oaks; hence Doireholm or Dourham, that is, the place or town surrounded by woods.