Darby is an English

locational surname A toponymic surname or habitational surname or byname is a surname or byname derived from a place name,

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

. Its prefix derives from the

Old Norse Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...

' ("deer"), and the suffix ' ("farm"/"settlement"). The oldest recorded surname dates to the period of 1160–1182 in

Lincolnshire Lincolnshire (), abbreviated ''Lincs'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber regions of England. It is bordered by the East Riding of Yorkshire across the Humber estuary to th ...

. Darby was a common pre-1800 alternative spelling of

Derby Derby ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area on the River Derwent, Derbyshire, River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original co ...

, a city in England. In Ireland, ''Darby'' is an diminutive of the Gaelic name Ó Diarmada, which means "descendant of Diarmaid". Notable people with the name or its variants include:

Surname

Darby

Abiah Darby Abiah Darby (born Abiah Maude; 1716–1794) was an English minister in the Quaker church based in Coalbrookdale, Shropshire. She was also the wife of the iron industrialist Abraham Darby. Abiah kept a journal and she sent letters which recorded ...

(1716–1794), English minister *

Abraham Darby I Abraham Darby, in his later life called Abraham Darby the Elder, now sometimes known for convenience as Abraham Darby I (14 April 1677 – 5 May 1717, the first and best known of Abraham Darby (disambiguation), several men of that name), was ...

(1678–1717), British ironmaster and pioneer of coke-fired smelting *

Abraham Darby II Abraham Darby, in his lifetime called Abraham Darby the Younger, referred to for convenience as Abraham Darby II (12 May 1711 – 31 March 1763) was the second man of that name in an English Quaker family that played an important role in the ea ...

(1711–1763), British ironmaster, son of Abraham I *

Abraham Darby III Abraham Darby III (24 April 1750 – 1789) was an English ironmaster and Quaker. He was the third man of that name in several generations of an English Quaker family that played a pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution. Life Abraham Darby ...

(1750–1791), British ironmaster, builder of the world's first iron bridge *

Abraham Darby IV Abraham Darby IV (30 March 1804 – 28 November 1878) was an English ironmaster. He was born in Dale House, Coalbrookdale, Shropshire the son of Edmund Darby, a member of the Darby ironmaking family, and Lucy (née Burlingham) Darby. He was a G ...

(1804–1878), British ironmaster *

Adrian Darby Adrian Marten George Darby, (born 25 September 1937) is a British conservationist and academic. Academic and conservation career Darby served as a fellow and tutor in economics at Keble College, University of Oxford (1963–1985), and visi ...

(born 1937), British environmentalist * Al Darby (born 1954), American football player * Alden Darby (born 1992), Canadian football defensive back * Angie Darby (born 1987), Australian modern pentathlete * Anthony Darby (born 1972), Australian footballer *

Arthur Darby Arthur John Lovett Darby (9 January 1876 in Chester – 15 January 1960 in Dartmouth, Devon) was a British rugby union player who competed in the 1900 Summer Olympics. Before representing Britain in the Olympics, Darby was selected to represe ...

(1876–1960), British rugby union player * Brandon Darby (born 1976), American conservative blogger and activist * Brent Darby (1981–2011), American basketball player * Brett Darby (born 1983), English footballer * Byron Darby (born 1960), American football defensive end * Chad Darby (born 1981), American musician * Chris Darby (born 1950s), New Zealand politician in Auckland *

Christopher Darby Griffith Christopher Darby Griffith (1804-1885) was a British politician. He was a Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Devizes Devizes () is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It developed around Devizes Castle, a ...

(1804–1885), British Member of parliament for Devizes * Chuck Darby (born 1975), American football player * Craig Darby (born 1972), American ice hockey center *

Dick Darby Harold Richard Darby (28 February 1919 – 27 December 1993) was the Bishop of Sherwood — a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Southwell — from 1975 until 1988. He was educated at Durham University, ordained in 1951 and began his ecclesiasti ...

(1919–1993), British Bishop of Sherwood *

Douglas Darby Evelyn Douglas Darby MP (24 September 1910 – 22 August 1985) was an Australian politician, elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. His efforts in denouncing socialism, attacking the labour movement, breaking strikes, ...

(1910–1985), Australian politician * Drew Darby (born 1947), politician in Texas *

Duane Darby Duane Darby (born 17 October 1973) is an English association football, football manager and former player, who was previously the manager (association football), manager of side Redditch United F.C., Redditch United. As a player, he spent most ...

(born 1973), English footballer * Edward Darby (1888–?), British World War I flying ace * Frank Darby (born 1997), American football player *

George Darby Vice-Admiral George Darby ( 1720 – 1790) was an officer of the British Royal Navy. He commanded HMS ''Norwich'' at the capture of Martinique in 1762 during the Seven Years' War. He went on to command the Western Squadron during the Ameri ...

(1720–1790), Anglo-Irish vice-admiral in the British Royal Navy * George Darby (baseball) (1869–1937), American baseball player * George Darby (politician) (1798–1877), British politician *

Harry Darby Harry Darby (January 23, 1895January 17, 1987) was an American politician from Kansas. Life and career Born in Kansas City, Kansas, Darby graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois, and served in the ...

(1895–1987), United States Senator * J. N. Darby, a pen-name of American juvenile fiction writer Christine N. Govan (1897–1985) * J. N. Darby, a pen-name of American author and naturalist Mary Q. Steele (1922–1992) * John Darby (NASCAR official), American NASCAR Cup Series race director * John Fletcher Darby (1803–1882), United States Congressman * John M. Darby (1804–1877), American botanist and academic *

John Nelson Darby John Nelson Darby (18 November 1800 – 29 April 1882) was an Anglo-Irish Bible teacher, one of the influential figures among the original Plymouth Brethren and the founder of the Exclusive Brethren. He is considered to be the father of modern ...

, British theologian, leader of the Plymouth Brethren, founder of the Darbyites and translator of the Darby Bible * Joseph Darby, American military policeman and whistleblower * Julian Darby (born 1967), English footballer *

Kim Darby Kim Darby (born Deborah Zerby; July 8, 1947) is an American actress and teacher. Her breakout role was as Mattie Ross in the 1969 Western film ''True Grit'', earning her a BAFTA Award nomination for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Rol ...

(born 1947), American actress * Mary Darby, maiden name of British poet Mary Robinson *

Matthew Darby Matthew George Darby, (born 27 August 1967) is a British conservationist and former publisher. He is the son of Adrian Darby and Lady Meriel Darby, daughter of former British Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas-Home (also known as 14th Earl of H ...

(born 1967), British conservationist and publisher *

Newman Darby Sidney Newman Darby Jr. (January 31, 1928 – December 3, 2016) was an American inventor best known as the inventor of the sailboard. Biography He was born in 1928 and grew up in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and began building boats when he was 12. ...

(1928–2016), American inventor *

Rhys Darby Rhys Montague Darby (born 21 March 1974) is a New Zealand actor and comedian. He is known for his energetic physical comedy routines, telling stories accompanied with mime, and sound effects of things such as machinery and animals. He was nomin ...

(born 1974), New Zealand comedian and actor *

Richard Darby Richard Darby (born 1958) is an American lawyer and the former chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. On April 5, 2018, Governor Mary Fallin appointed Darby to the Oklahoma Supreme Court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Jose ...

, American attorney and judge; appointed Associate Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court in April 2018 *

Séamus Darby Séamus Darby (born 1950, Rhode, County Offaly) is an Irish former Gaelic footballer. Darby is best remembered for scoring an unexpected late goal that deprived Kerry of a 5-in-a-row in the 1982 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final ...

(born 1950), Irish Gaelic footballer * Siegen Thomas Darby (1966-),American musician, and songwriter *Shawn Darby (1966-) American Professional motorcycle builder and designer * Sir Henry D'Esterre Darby (1750–1823), Anglo-Irish admiral in the British Royal Navy * Stephen Darby (born 1989), English footballer *

Steve Darby Stephen David Darby (born 15 January 1955) is an English football coach and former player. He is well known throughout Asia as a pundit for ESPN Star Sports. Managerial career Bahrain Darby started his football manager career in 1978 wh ...

(born 1955), English football coach and pundit * Thomas Darby, inventor of the Darby Steam-Digger * Tom Darby, half of the country music duo Darby and Tarlton * Will Darby, American politician * William Darby (priest) (died 1791), Anglican Archdeacon in Ireland in the late nineteenth century * William J. Darby (1913–2001), American physician and nutrition scientist * William Orlando Darby (1911–1945), U.S. Army officer, commander of Darby's Rangers

D'Arby

* Josie d'Arby (born 1972), British actress *

Terence Trent D'Arby Sananda Francesco Maitreya (born Terence Trent Howard; March 15, 1962), who started his career with the stage name Terence Trent D'Arby, is an American singer and songwriter who came to fame with his debut studio album, '' Introducing the Hard ...

(born 1962), American singer-songwriter

Given name

Darby Allin Samuel Ratsch (born January 7, 1993), better known by the ring name Darby Allin, is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He is a former two-time AEW TNT Championship, AEW TNT Champion and a former AEW Wo ...

(born 1997), American wrestler * Darby Bailey, American actress, musician, songwriter, writer/producer, and businesswoman *

Darby Bergin Colonel Darby Bergin (September 7, 1826 – October 22, 1896) was an Ontario physician and political figure. He represented Cornwall from 1872 to 1874 and from 1878 to 1882 and then Cornwall and Stormont from 1882 to 1896 in the House of Co ...

(1826–1896), Ontario physician and political figure * Darby Berkhout (born 1966), Canadian rower * Darby Brown (1929–1988), Australian boxer of the 1940s and '50s * Darby Camp (born 2007), American actress *

Darby Conley Darby Conley is an American cartoonist best known for the newspaper comic strip ''Get Fuzzy''. Biography Conley was born in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1970, and grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee. While in high school in 1986, he won a student cart ...

(born 1970), American cartoonist creator of ''Get Fuzzy'' * Darby Cottle (born 1961), American softball player *Darby Cowgill (born 2011), Programmer * Darby Crash (1958–1980), American musician, from the band The Germs * Darby Dougherty, American actress in the film ''

Gummo ''Gummo'' is a 1997 American experimental drama film written and directed by Harmony Korine (in his directorial debut), and stars Linda Manz, Max Perlich, Jacob Sewell, Jacob Reynolds, Chloë Sevigny, and Nick Sutton. The film is set in X ...

'' * Darby Dunn, American journalist and reporter * Darby Field (1610–1649), British, first European to climb Mount Washington in New Hampshire *

Darby Gould Darby Marie Gould (aka Darby Venegas) is an American vocalist best known for her work with Jefferson Starship and World Entertainment War. Over the years she has developed a loyal following based on her passionate, soulful vocals and intense sta ...

(born 1965), American vocalist * Darby Hendrickson (born 1972), American hockey player and coach * Darby Hinton (born 1957), American actor and filmmaker *

Darby Jones Darby Jones (February 10, 1910 – November 30, 1986) was an American actor known for his role as the zombie-like Carrefour in the 1943 horror film ''I Walked with a Zombie''. He appeared in a similar role in the 1945 film '' Zombies on Broadway' ...

(1910–1986), American actor * Darby Lloyd Rains (born 1948), American adult film performer *

Darby Loudon Darby Briton Loudon (12 March 1897 – c. 1963) was a New Zealand born rugby union player, a flanker who made sixteen representative appearances for the New South Wales state team in the 1920s. Four of these matches have since been decreed as ...

(1897–1963), New Zealand-born rugby union player * Darby Lux II (1737–1795), American businessman, militiaman in the American Revolution * Darby McCarthy (1944–2020), Australian jockey * Darby McDevitt (born 1975), American game developer and writer *

Darby Mills Darby Phyllis Mills is a Canadian rock vocalist, former figure skater, and the past lead singer of the Headpins. She has embarked on a solo career, having signed a worldwide record contract and released both a remastered solo album and a live C ...

, Canadian rock vocalist * Darby Nelson (1940 –2022), American writer and politician * Darby O'Brien (1863–1893), American baseball player *

Darby Penney Darby Penney (December 10, 1952 – October 11, 2021) was an American mental health worker and human rights activist working for improvements in psychiatric care. Early life Penney was born in Oceanside, New York, the daughter of Arthur Penney ...

(1952–2021), American writer, activist *

Darby Riordan David "Darby" Riordan (23 July 1886 – 15 October 1936) was an Australian politician. Riordan was the Australian Labor Party member for Burke in the Queensland Legislative Assembly, winning the seat in 1918. He held Burke till 1929 at which ...

(1888–1936), Australian politician * Darby Slick (born 1944), American guitarist and songwriter *

Darby Stanchfield Darby Leigh Stanchfield (born April 29, 1971) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Abby Whelan in the ABC political drama series ''Scandal'' (2012–2018). Stanchfield is also known for roles as April Green in the CBS po ...

(born 1971), American film and television actress * Darby W. Betts (1912–1998), American Episcopal priest * Darby Walker (born 1974), Canadian ice hockey player

Fictional characters

* Ernest Darby, on the television series ''

Sons of Anarchy ''Sons of Anarchy'' is an American Action film, action crime drama television series created by Kurt Sutter for FX (TV channel), FX. Originally aired from September 3, 2008, to December 9, 2014, ''Sons of Anarchy'' follows the lives of a close-k ...

'' * Daniel J. D'Arby, from the ''

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki. It was originally serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from 1987 to 2004, and was transferred to the monthly manga magazine ''Ultra Jum ...

'' manga series * Darby O'Gill, in the writings of Herminie Templeton Kavanagh * Darby Carter, on the television series '' Love Life'' as portrayed by Anna Kendrick * Darby Shaw, in the film ''

The Pelican Brief ''The Pelican Brief'' is a legal-suspense thriller by John Grisham, published in 1992 by Doubleday. It is his third novel after '' A Time to Kill'' and '' The Firm''. Two paperback editions were published, both by Dell Publishing in 1993. A ...

'' played by Julia Roberts * Darby, a character who replaced

Christopher Robin Christopher Robin is a character created by A. A. Milne, based on his son Christopher Robin Milne. The character appears in the author's popular books of poetry and ''Winnie-the-Pooh'' stories, and has subsequently appeared in various Disney ...

in the animated television show, '' My Friends Tigger and Pooh''

References