Darwood

This most interesting surname is an English variant of "Durward" itself found chiefly in Scotland. It is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is an occupational name from the Olde English term "duru-weard", door-keeper, porter. In Scotland the office of door-ward to the king was a very honourable one and in the beginning of the 13th Century was hereditary in the powerful family of "de Lundin", who emigrated to Aberdeenshire because of a prolonged dispute between the family and Duncan, Earl of Mar, from whom Thomas de Lundin claimed the earldom through his mother. The dispute, during which the family had the support of the Scottish Kings William the Lion and Alexander 11 was settled in 1228 and resulted in the de Lundins or Durwards obtaining an enormous lordship in the valley of the Dee. Alan Durward, son of the first person to take his name from the office, Thomas de Lundyn (circa 1204), was one of the great figures in Scottish history during the 13th Century. He married Marjorie, an illegitimate daughter of Alexander 11, and during the minority of Alexander 111 was Regent of the kingdom. "Dorward", popular around Arbroath, is probably from the office of door-ward of the Abbey. William Doreward was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1230 and Richard Doreward was mentioned in the Feet of Fines of Essex in 1255. Ann, daughter of Gerorge and Ann Darwood was christened on March 26th, 1727 in London. The name may also be found as Durward, Dorwood, Durrad and Durrett. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Reiner Dureward, which was dated 1208, in the "Curia Rolls of Norfolk", during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199-1216. 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.