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Dorval Family History

Dorval Surname Meaning

Breton and French: habitational name with fused French preposition d(e) ‘from’ for someone from either of two places called Orval (in Manche and Cher) the one in Manche recorded in Latin as Aurea Vallis ‘Golden Valley’ in 1100. In France this surname is by far most common in Finistère in Brittany.

West Indian (mainly Haiti): nickname or ornamental name composed of French d'or ‘of gold’ and val ‘valley’. The surname may possibly also be of the same origin as 1 above.

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


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Where is the Dorval family from?

You can see how Dorval families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dorval family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dorval families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1891 there were 10 Dorval families living in London. This was about 67% of all the recorded Dorval's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Dorval families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dorval 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 Dorval ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Dorval. 28% of Dorval men worked as a Laborer and 37% of Dorval women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dorval were Clerk and Winder.

View Census Data for Dorval | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    28%
  • Salesman
    17%
  • Truck Driver
    12%
  • Clerk
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    37%
  • Waitress
    28%
  • Clerk
    19%
  • Winder
    19%

What Dorval family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 11,000 census records available for the last name Dorval. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dorval census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dorval

Passenger Lists

There are 667 immigration records available for the last name Dorval. 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 Dorval immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 737 military records available for the last name Dorval. For the veterans among your Dorval ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dorval military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dorval family history

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What is the average Dorval lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Dorval life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1979. The average life expectancy for Dorval in 1960 was 36, and 58 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dorval

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dorval 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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