Duer - Name

This very interesting name has two possible origins, the first and most likely being Scottish and deriving from "The bands of Dures", a now, lost point in Montrose. The name development includes John Dours in 1734 and ; Dr William Duirs, 1803 - 1867. The modern recorded spellings being Duir, Duirs, Duer, Dures and Doors. The well known 'Dewer' is an occupation descriptin name from the 14th Century , (Gaelic -Deoir) which means a pilgrim and is not connected. However, it is also possible that the name 'Duer is an anglicization of the French (Huguenot) Heraldic name 'Duert' recorded C.1680 in the Isle de France Province. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Margaret Dures. which was dated 1611, Old Montrose, Scotland. during the reign of King James VI, of Scotland 1587 - 1625. 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.