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Home › Baby Names Directory › Durward

Durward

♂ Boy

Pronounced DUR-wurd /ˈdɜːr.wərd/Medium

Meaning: A surname turned given name, from the Old English for 'door-ward; doorkeeper; gatekeeper' — an office at a great house. An early-twentieth-century American form.Low

In 30 seconds: A sturdy surname-name: Durward means 'gatekeeper' (Old English), said 'DUR-wurd.' Antique and rare.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningA surname turned given name, from the Old English for 'door-ward; doorkeeper; gatekeeper' — an office at a great house. An early-twentieth-century American form.
U.S. rank (1991)#8570 ↘ Falling
1991 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1916
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,873

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191618841991

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Durward comes from the Old English for 'door-ward; gatekeeper,' once an office at a great house. It saw early-twentieth-century American use, peaked in 1916, and faded across the century (said 'DUR-wurd').

Durward belonged to the early-1900s generation and has all but vanished since. Rare, antique, and sturdy.

Did you know? Durward is an English surname ('door-ward; gatekeeper') that peaked around 1916 — an early-century name now nearly gone.
Overall data confidence 55%
References — Durward — English surname; Old English 'gatekeeper'

Variations

DurwoodDurwinDurwyn

Nicknames

DurWard

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

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By themesurnameold-englishantique1910s

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Durward mean?

Durward is an English surname, from the Old English for 'door-ward; gatekeeper.'

How do you pronounce Durward?

It's said DUR-wurd /ˈdɜːr.wərd/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Durward a boy or girl name?

Durward is used here as a boy's name.

How popular is Durward?

Durward peaked in the nineteen-tens and is very rare today.

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