Durand
A medieval French surname from a personal name meaning “steadfast” or “enduring.”
The #4,070 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 35,370 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Durand comes from the old personal name Durand, which goes back to Latin Durandus, a name built from durare, meaning “to last” or “to endure.” In effect, it meant “the enduring one” or “steadfast.” As a surname, it began as an inherited family name from a bearer of that given name rather than from a place or occupation.
History
The name was common in medieval France and appears early in Anglo-Norman records after the Norman Conquest. It spread widely in French-speaking areas and later into English records, often alongside related forms such as Durant. In English usage it is usually associated with French or Anglo-Norman ancestry rather than being an English-origin surname.
Origin
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Fun fact
Durand is one of those surnames whose meaning is almost literally a compliment: it originally pointed to someone seen as resilient or durable.
From the historical record
“I'Angleterre' en mlxvi.," which he will find graven over the main doorway (inside) of t'he old church at Dives. He can there feast his eyes on famous Anglo-Norman names galore — Durand, GifFard, Talbot, Malet, de Venables, Tirel, de Colleville, Archer, Gibard, Gilbert, de Malleville, Basset, Lovvet, de Perci, de…”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)