New Zealand - The First Durie Migrants.  Are you descended from these?

There are numerous separate Durie families in NZ, including the progenitors of two prominent Maori families. But the best known of the early ones is probably David Stark Durie (1804-1874), a son of Consul Charles Durie (b. 1778 Dunfermline, d. 1868 South Molton) - Consul at Oslo, Norway (until he was dismissed for fiddling his expenses) ended up in Norse County, Texas, where their descendants are to this day and one became very important in the early history of Australia.

David Stark Durie fought in Portugal and in the Spanish Carlist wars but was invited by Colonel William Wakefield to help him establish the new colony in New Zealand. He became the first Inspector of Armed Police then Resident Magistrate at Wanganui where a number of place names commemorate his contribution to the city.

Are you related to or descended from any of these? When did your ancestors arrive in New Zealand?

We would like any New Zealand Duries or those with Durie connections who feel they could be included in this section to send us their names and some information about their lives and their families. Please send your story and if possible photographs as well to: webmaster@brucedurie.co.uk. All will be reviewed and may be used in a Newsletter &/or posted on the website. Durie Family Association members will, we hope, be able to provide detail they have on parents, grandparents and ancestors to help us all build up our extended Family Tree.

From whom are you descended? Please send us information on your family.

If you have someone or a history for us to consider adding to the website please send your copy (attached in Word Document or Plain Text only) by email, accessible from our Contact page. If possible attach photographs in Jpeg format (.jpg). All information will be reviewed and may be used in a Newsletter and/or posted on the website and shared with the family genealogist.

We hope you will also be able to provide details have on parents, grandparents and ancestors to help us build up our extended Family Tree.

Do please join the Durie DNA Project: Click Here

There is an historical information section on Overseas Duries included in '750 Years of Duries' by Dr Bruce Durie. Click Here