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Durkin History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Sources

Durkin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Durkin

What does the name Durkin mean?

The Durkin surname is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Duarcáin.

Early Origins of the Durkin family

The surname Durkin was first found in north Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn), where they held a family seat as Chiefs of their race. Irish history was greatly influenced by the Norman invasion of 1172, and thereafter, the surnames of Irish Gaelic clanns and septs and many of the Norman families became almost indistinguishable. This family name was found later in Sligo where seated and represented the first recorded reference to the name by Sineall, son of Cassan. They were descended through the MacNamara line from the O'Brien Kings of Ireland.

Early History of the Durkin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Durkin research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Durkin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Durkin Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Durkin, Durkan, Dorcan, McDurkin, McDorcan, McDurkan, Gurkin, McGurkin, O'Durkin, O'Durcan and many more.

Early Notables of the Durkin family

More information is included under the topic Early Durkin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Durkin Ranking

In the United States, the name Durkin is the 4,580^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1

Durkin migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Durkin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Annie Durkin, who arrived in Virginia in 1670

Durkin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Anthony Durkin, who settled in Philadelphia in 1844
Catharine Durkin, who settled in New York in 1864
Ann Durkin, who settled in New York in 1864
Ann Durkin, aged 7, who arrived in New York in 1864 2
Catharine Durkin, aged 30, who landed in New York in 1864 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Durkin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Durkin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mrs. Mary Durkin, aged 30 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "John Munn" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 3
Mr. Peter Durkin, aged 20 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Sarah" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 3
Mr. Luke Durkin, aged 25 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Westmoreland" departing 12th June 1847 from Sligo, Ireland; the ship arrived on 10th August 1847 but he died on board 4
Mr. Michael Durkin, aged 28 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "John Munn" departing 16th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 13th August 1847 but he died on board 4

Durkin migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Durkin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Robert Durkin, English convict who was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 30th June 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 5
Mr. Dennis Durkin, British Convict who was convicted in Clerkenwell, London, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Dudbrook" on 17th November 1852, arriving in Western Australia 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Durkin (post 1700) +

William F. Durkin (1929-2025), American politician and businessman, served as the mayor of Waukegan, Illinois, (1993-2001), as the city's clerk (1980-1993)
Shevonne Durkin (b. 1969), American actress, perhpas best known for her starring role in the 1994 horror movie Leprechaun 2
Raymond M. 'Ray' Durkin (b. 1936), American Democratic party politician, Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee (1985-1990)
Trent Bernard "Junior" Durkin (1915-1935), American stage and film actor, perhaps best known for his roles as HuckleBerry Finn in Tom Sawyer (1930), and Huckleberry Finn (1931)
John Anthony Durkin (1936-2012), American politician, Democratic U.S. Senator from New Hampshire (1975 to 1980)
Master Sergeant William Lloyd Durkin (1916-2006), American Marine who became famous for rescuing Howard Hughes when the aviation pioneer's XF-11 reconnaissance plane crashed on July 7, 1946
Tom Durkin (b. 1950), American sportscaster specializing in Thoroughbred horse racing
Martin Patrick Durkin (1894-1955), American administrator, 7th Secretary of Labor in 1953, known as the "plumber" of President Dwight Eisenhower's "Nine Millionaires and a Plumber" cabinet
Jim Durkin (b. 1961), American politician, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2013-)
Kevin Durkin (b. 1973), American professional (PGA) golfer
... (Another 24 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Durkin family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. John Durkin (d. 1914), British Café Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 7

HMS Cornwall

Arthur Michael Durkin (d. 1942), British Leading Stoker aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 8

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Roy M Durkin, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 9

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 26)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 74)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 23rd July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dudbrook
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html