The term derby originally referred to a specific horse race held annually in Epsom, Surrey, England. This race, established in 1780 by Edward Smith-Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby, quickly became a prominent event in England. Over time, the term began to be used to describe any sporting contest, particularly horse races, leading to the modern definition of the word. The surname Derby dates back to Old English, where it was spelled as Deoraby or Deorby, meaning “deer village”. Historical usage of the word derby saw peaks in the early twentieth century and again in 2017.
