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Dorey Family History

Dorey Surname Meaning

English: nickname from Middle English dorre dori ‘golden’ (Old French doré) probably denoting someone with golden blond hair.

As a noun this word was used for the fish now known as the John Dorey also for golden-colored brocade and a yellow sauce or glaze.

Any of these senses could have contributed to the surname.

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


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Where is the Dorey family from?

You can see how Dorey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dorey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dorey families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 273 Dorey families living in Channel Islands. This was about 23% of all the recorded Dorey's in United Kingdom. Channel Islands had the highest population of Dorey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dorey 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 Dorey ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Dorey. 12% of Dorey men worked as a General Labourer and 79% of Dorey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dorey were Old Age Pensioner and Housewife.

View Census Data for Dorey | 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

  • General Labourer
    12%
  • Carpenter
    10%
  • Incapacitated
    8%
  • Old Age Pensioner
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Dorey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 35,000 census records available for the last name Dorey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dorey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dorey

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Dorey. 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 Dorey immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Dorey. For the veterans among your Dorey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dorey military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dorey family history

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What is the average Dorey lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Dorey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Dorey in 1953 was 63, and 82 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dorey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dorey 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.

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