This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the dreng.' Halliwell says, 'Drenges, a class of men who held a rank between a baron and a thayn.' Sir Henry Ellis in his Introduction to Domesday says, 'The drenchs or drenghs were of the description of allodial tenants, and from the few entries in which they occur, it certainly appears that the allotments of territory which they possessed were held as manors.' Whatever the title implied, one thing is certain, it became a surname, and flourishes in the 19th century.

William Dreng, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

'Dreng de Trocchelai,' 1161: Hodgson's History of Northumberland.

William fil. Patrick Dring, 1219: ibid.

Robertus Dring, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

John Dreng, Yorkshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

1600. Married — Joseph Crockford and Dorcas Dring: St. James, Clerkenwell.

1779. — Robert Dring and Sarah Gardiner: St. George, Hanover Square.

(Anglo-Scand.) Servant, Retainer; earlier Soldier, Warrior [Middle English dring, dreng, Old English dreng; Old Norse dreng-r, a warrior, brave man]

Drengage was a feudal tenure said to be peculiar, or nearly so, to the northern counties. Sir Henry Ellis, in his Introduction to Domesday, says:-"The drenchs or drenghs were of the description of allodial tenants, and from the few entries in which they occur, it certainly appears that the allotments of territory which they possessed were held as manors." But there are proofs of drengage having been far from a free tenure, which both Spelman and Coke consider it; for it appears from the Boldon Book that the services of the drengh were to plough, sow, and harrow a portion of the bishop of Durham's land; to keep a dog and horse for the bishop's use, and a cart to convey his wine; to attend the chase with dogs and ropes, and perform certain harvest works. Spelman says the drengs were such as, being at the Conquest put out af their estate, were afterwards restored. In Lye's Saxon Dict, dreng is defined as "miles," vir fortis. See Notes and Queries, VII. p. 137-8. Halliwell gives a different definition; he says "Drenges, a class of men who held a rank between the baron and thayn. Hawelok." The ordinary interpretation would be Soldiers.

From Tring; a location name in Hertfordshire.

Dring was the name of the mayor of Nottingham in 1651 and 1658 (Deering's "Nottingham"). As Dreng, it occurred in Notts and Yorkshire in the 13th century (H. R.). There was a family of Dring in Marlborough, Wilts, in the 17th century (Waylen's "Marlborough").