This surname is derived from an official title. 'the door-ward'; Middle English dore. This surname in the form of Durward has been immortalized by Walter Scott's Quentin Durward. v. Durknave.

'Alan Durward (or Alanus Ostiarius. Hostiarius, le Usher), justiciar of Scotland, was the son of Thomas Ostiarius. ... Durward makes his first appearance as Alan Ostiarius domini Regis Scocie': Dictionary of National Biography.

Geoffrey le Doreward, Essex, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Richard Doreward, Essex, ibid.

Elias Dorewarde. Calendarium Inquisitionum Post Mortem.

Isabel Dorewarde. Rolls of Parliament.

Wm Durward. Calendarium Inquisitionum Post Mortem.

Several families in Scotland owe their surnames to tenure of office, and of these names so derived Durward is the greatest. Dorward, the form still common round Arbroath, is however, more likely to be derived "from the office of door-ward of the Abbey, than that so many descendants in humble life remain of the great family who had their surname from being Ostiarii Regis" (Neubotle, pref. p. xix). The surnames Porter and Usher (OF. Ussher) are from the same office. Between 1208 and 1213 Galfridus, hostiarius of the bishop of Glasgow, witnessed confirmation of the sale of the land of Scrogees to the church of Glasgow (REG., p. 76), and another Galfridus, ostiarius, witnessed a charter by John, bishop of Dunkeld, c. 1199 (Inchaffray, p. 5). The office of door-ward to the king (in Latin documents, 'hostiarius regis' or 'ostiarius regis') was a very honorable one, and in the beginning of the thirteenth century was hereditary in the powerful family of de Lundin, probably from Lundin in Fifeshire, but their actual origin is unknown. The de Lundins migrated to Aberdeenshire as the result of a prolonged lawsuit between the family and Duncan, earl of Mar, from whom Thomas de Lundin claimed the earldom through his mother, a daughter of Orabilia, countess of Mar, and her first husband Earl Gilchrist. In this claim the family appears to have had the support of the Scottish kings (William the Lion and Alexander II) who wished to break up the old Gaelic Palatinate of Mar. The dispute was settled about 1228 and resulted in the de Lundins or Durwards obtaining an enormous lordship in the valley of the Dee, the greater portion of the earldom in fact. The first, perhaps, who took his name from the office (c. 1204—11) was Thomas de Lundyn, hostiarius domini regis (RAA., I, 59). His son was Alan Durward, one of the great figures in Scottish history during the thirteenth century. Alan married Marjorie, an illegitimate daughter of Alexander 11, and for some time during the minority of Alexander in he was Regent of the kingdom. He died either in 1268 or 1275 (ES., II, p. 674), and his lands were divided among his three daughters. Thomas de Durward was burgess of Arbroath in 1452 (RAA., II, p. 80). and John Durward and William Durward, son of John, held part of Burntown from the Abbey of Arbroath in 1478 (ibid., p. 179). John Durewarde held land in Brechin, 1508 (REB., II, 159), Thomas Durvart was tenant under the bishop of Aberdeen, 1511 (REA., I, p. 372), and Allane Duruart, a follower of the earl of Mar, was charged with resetting outlawed Macgregors, 1636 (RPC., 2. ser. VI p. 215). Alexander Durwart in Craigendowie, parish of Navan, 1668, and five more are in record (Brechin). Duruard 1504, Durwarde 1501, Durwartt 1541, Durwat 1478.

(English) Doorkeeper. Gate­keeper [Old English dor + w(e)ard]

(Scottish) One who held the office of doorkeeper of the Abbey.