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Dorsey Family History

Dorsey Surname Meaning

English (East Yorkshire): of French origin a habitational name with French preposition d(e) from Orsay in Seine-et-Orne France or from Orçay in Loire-et-Cher recorded in the 13th century as Orceiacum.

This name is derived from the Latin personal name Orcius combined with the locative suffix -acum.

The origins of the name reflect the historical connections between England and France, particularly during the medieval period.

Habitational names often indicate the geographical roots of the people who carried them, linking them to specific places.

As such names evolve, they can provide valuable insights into the migration and settlement patterns of different cultures.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Dorsey family from?

You can see how Dorsey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dorsey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dorsey families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 85 Dorsey families living in Yorkshire. This was about 41% of all the recorded Dorsey's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Dorsey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dorsey surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Dorsey ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Shoeing general Smith and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Dorsey. 50% of Dorsey men worked as a Shoeing general Smith and 82% of Dorsey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dorsey were Builders Labourer and Domestic Duties Unpaid.

View Census Data for Dorsey | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Shoeing general Smith
    50%
  • Builders Labourer
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    82%
  • Pensioner
    5%
  • Cotton Weaver
    5%
  • Domestic Duties Unpaid
    5%

What Dorsey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 150,000 census records available for the last name Dorsey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dorsey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dorsey

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Dorsey. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Dorsey immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 36,000 military records available for the last name Dorsey. For the veterans among your Dorsey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dorsey military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dorsey family history

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What is the average Dorsey lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Dorsey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Dorsey in 1940 was 52, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dorsey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dorsey ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Dorsey family tree

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