The distinguished surname Durso originated in an area of Italy, known as the Papal States. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adapt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. The most traditional type of family name found in the region of the Papal States is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name. During the Middle Ages, Italians adopted the patronymic system of name-making because it perfectly complemented the prevailing feudal system. In Italy the popularity of patronymic type of surname is also due to the fact that during the Christian era, people often named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Durso came from the name Orso, which is derived from the Latin name Ursus, meaning bear.

Spelling variations include: Orsi, Orso, Ursi, Urso, Dorso, Ursich, Ursic, Orselli, Orsetti, Orsatti, Ursini, Ursino, Orsoni and many more.

First found in Forli a town in Emilia capital of the province of Forli.

Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Juanni Francesco Orsi, who was Naturalized in Mississippi in 1891.