This interesting Scottish surname is of locational origin from the village of "Durno", (recorded as "Dournach" in 1257), in the parish of Chapel of Garioch in Aberdeenshire, approximately 18 miles North - West of Aberdeen. The surname was first recorded in the late 14th Century, (see below). On November 19th 1680, Janett, daughter of John Durno was christened at Auchterless, Aberdeen while William Durno married a Jean Caddell at Rayne, Aberdeen on January 3rd 1680. Also at Rayne, Scotland, William Durno married Janet Law on February 24th 1689. Church records of London include the marriage of Maria Durno to a John Tucker on January 26th 1784, at St. Leonards, Shoreditch. The Midlothian church records only show two recordings of the surname in the last Century: On July 27th 1860, at Edinburgh Helen Durno was married to John Watters and Susan Grant Durno was christened on May 14th 1870. James Durno (1751-1807), was a prominent British diplomat and was of Aberdeenshire birth and Leslie Durno from Fyvie served in the first world war. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Johannes de Dournach, which was dated 1382, Registrum episcopatus Aberdonenis", during the reign of King Robert 11, "Ruler of Scotland", 1371 - 1390. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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