What is "durnan"

Durnan (spelling variations include Durnane, Durneen, Durnin, Durnain, Dornan, Dornain, Dorneen, Durning) is an Irish Celtic surname. The original Gaelic form was written as Ó Duirnín or Ó Dornáin, possibly derived from the word dorn, which means fist.

According to tracit.com, the Durnan family can trace their ancestors back to the ancient territories of Ireland between the 11th and 12th centuries, first appearing in ancient medieval records in Antrim. In Britain, the largest concentrations of people with this surname are around Argyll in Scotland and North West England.

New world settlers include Nicholas Durnan who settled in Virginia in 1734; Charles Durnin, who settled in Newcastle in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, in 1827; John Durnin arrived in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1868.

The Durnan crest is a blue demi antelope; the coat of arms features a blue shield, with a silver chevron between three silver antelopes.