Legend of Millie Durgan Indian Captive
Owen Durkin
Under Construction
The only Gaelic-Irish surname to have an anglicized form beginning with the letter Z is Mac Dhuarcáin, normally Durkan or Durkin, but sometimes spelt Zorkin and Gurkin. The word duarcán, from which Durkan is probably derived, means pessimist. Durkan numerous in Mayo and Sligo: it ind few elsewhere. It originated in Co. Sligo and is said it was adopted by a branch of the O'Haras: a Duarcáin who died in 1225 appears in the O'Hara pedigree. In ans estimated that there are well over 2,000 people of the name in north Connacht a Inquisition made in the reign of James I the name appeared as MacDurcan, several were landholders in the barony of Gallen. In the Strafford Inquisition of Co. Mayo (1635) there was one MacDurkain, while there were many MacCurkans in the barony of Gallen and it is the same name. A modern representative of these was Most Rev. Patrick Durcan, Bishop of Achonry from 1852 to 1875.
