NameCensus.

UK surname

Dora

An Italian surname meaning "golden" or "gift of God".

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Dora surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 119, ranked #27,704, up from #32,243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Beith East and Rural, Arbroath Harbour and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dora is 119 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1090.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

119

2016, ranked #27,704

Peak year

2016

119 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dora had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016, ranked #27,704.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 27 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Dora surname distribution map

The map shows where the Dora surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Dora surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dora over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 8 #31,867
1861 historical 26 #30,677
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1891 historical 27 #32,115
1901 historical 18 #32,032
1911 historical 26 #30,547
1997 modern 64 #31,233
1998 modern 70 #30,968
1999 modern 72 #30,955
2000 modern 63 #31,829
2001 modern 61 #31,891
2002 modern 64 #32,007
2003 modern 61 #32,352
2004 modern 68 #31,880
2005 modern 72 #31,730
2006 modern 74 #31,850
2007 modern 84 #31,067
2008 modern 83 #31,483
2009 modern 86 #31,612
2010 modern 84 #32,289
2011 modern 97 #30,552
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 109 #29,209
2014 modern 116 #28,253
2015 modern 116 #28,151
2016 modern 119 #27,704

Geography

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Where Doras are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Beith East and Rural, Arbroath Harbour, Brent and New Pitsligo. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Beith East and Rural North Ayrshire
2 Arbroath Harbour Angus
3 Brent 030 Brent
4 New Pitsligo Aberdeenshire
5 Brent 004 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dora

These lists show first names that appear often with the Dora surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dora

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dora, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Dora surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Dora household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Dora is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dora is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dora falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dora is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Dora, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dora

The surname DORA has its origins in Spain, tracing back to the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Spanish word "dóra," which means "golden" or "gilded." This may have been a descriptive nickname or an occupational surname for someone who worked with gold or gilding.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DORA can be found in the Catalan region of Spain during the 13th century. In a historical document from 1274, a man named Pere DORA was mentioned as a resident of the town of Lleida.

Throughout the Middle Ages, variations of the spelling were used, such as DORAS, D'ORA, and DORAZ. These alternative spellings can be found in various records from different regions of Spain.

During the 16th century, the surname DORA began to appear in other parts of Europe, possibly due to migration or trade. In the Italian city-state of Florence, there are records from 1512 mentioning a merchant named Giovanni DORA who dealt in textiles and luxury goods.

One notable figure in history who bore the surname DORA was Juan DORA, a Spanish military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. Born in 1782 in Valencia, he rose through the ranks and played a significant role in the Spanish resistance against the French occupation.

Another prominent individual with this surname was María DORA, a Spanish artist and painter from the 19th century. Born in 1824 in Barcelona, she was renowned for her portraits and landscapes, and her works can be found in several museums across Spain.

In the field of literature, Álvaro DORA was a renowned Spanish poet and playwright who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His works were widely acclaimed during his lifetime and continue to be studied by scholars of Spanish literature.

The DORA surname has also been associated with certain place names in Spain. For instance, the village of Dora in the province of Navarre is believed to have derived its name from the surname, possibly indicating that it was founded or settled by individuals bearing the DORA name.

Throughout history, the DORA surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, military leaders, merchants, and writers. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Spain, the name has dispersed across Europe and beyond, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural exchanges of the past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dora families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dora surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Oxfordshire leads with 3 Doras recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.92x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 3 49.92x
Lancashire 2 1.73x
Kent 1 3.01x
Middlesex 1 1.03x
Nottinghamshire 1 7.63x
Surrey 1 2.11x
Yorkshire 1 1.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston Rowant in Oxfordshire leads with 3 Doras recorded in 1881 and an index of 15000.00x.

Place Total Index
Aston Rowant 3 15000.00x
Whiston 2 2222.22x
Battersea 1 27.93x
Deptford St Paul 1 39.06x
Sheffield 1 32.57x
South Leverton 1 10000.00x
Whitechapel London 1 104.17x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dora surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Lydia 1
Mary 1
Matilda 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dora surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Charles 1
Henry 1
John 1
William 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Dora households.

FAQ

Dora surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dora surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Dora surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dora surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016. That gives Dora a modern rank of #27,704.

What does the Dora surname mean?

An Italian surname meaning "golden" or "gift of God".

What does the Dora map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dora bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.