NameCensus.

UK surname

Dorey

A locational surname derived from the French village of Audrey.

In the 1881 census there were 761 people recorded with the Dorey surname, ranking it #4,855 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,093, ranked #5,363, down from #4,855 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Purbeck, Waverley and Havant.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dorey is 1,209 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.6%.

1881 census count

761

Ranked #4,855

Modern count

1,093

2016, ranked #5,363

Peak year

1998

1,209 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dorey had 761 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,855 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,093 in 2016, ranked #5,363.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,077 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Dorey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dorey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dorey 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 408 #5,946
1861 historical 520 #5,038
1881 historical 761 #4,855
1891 historical 877 #4,691
1901 historical 955 #4,918
1911 historical 1,077 #4,307
1997 modern 1,173 #4,809
1998 modern 1,209 #4,852
1999 modern 1,207 #4,908
2000 modern 1,191 #4,938
2001 modern 1,165 #4,939
2002 modern 1,201 #4,902
2003 modern 1,142 #5,025
2004 modern 1,145 #5,017
2005 modern 1,108 #5,100
2006 modern 1,122 #5,054
2007 modern 1,108 #5,153
2008 modern 1,110 #5,180
2009 modern 1,135 #5,184
2010 modern 1,154 #5,223
2011 modern 1,101 #5,366
2012 modern 1,106 #5,265
2013 modern 1,121 #5,290
2014 modern 1,115 #5,332
2015 modern 1,108 #5,323
2016 modern 1,093 #5,363

Geography

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Where Doreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, Portsmouth, Portsea, Corfe Castle and Wareham Lady St Mary and Out Parish, Wareham St Martin, West Lulworth, East Stoke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Purbeck, Waverley, Havant, South Hams and Teignbridge. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 Corfe Castle Dorset
5 Wareham Lady St Mary and Out Parish, Wareham St Martin, West Lulworth, East Stoke Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Purbeck 006 Purbeck
2 Waverley 011 Waverley
3 Havant 013 Havant
4 South Hams 010 South Hams
5 Teignbridge 011 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dorey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dorey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dorey, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Dorey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dorey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dorey is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dorey is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dorey falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dorey 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dorey

The surname Dorey has its origins in France, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from the town of Douray in Normandy. Alternatively, it may have derived from the Old French word "doré," meaning "golden," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone with golden-colored hair or a ruddy complexion.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Norman Rolls of 1180-1195, which recorded individuals who accompanied William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. This suggests that the Dorey name may have been brought to England by Norman settlers during this period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dorey can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census records compiled during the reign of King Edward I. In these rolls, the name is spelled as "Dore" and "Dory."

The Dorey surname has also been linked to various place names throughout history. For instance, in the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there is a reference to a place called "Dore" in Derbyshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Dorey throughout history include:

1. Sir John Dorey (c. 1520-1590), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. Margery Dorey (c. 1550-1620), an English woman who was accused of witchcraft during the Pendle witch trials in Lancashire. 3. Captain William Dorey (c. 1680-1745), a British naval officer and explorer who commanded voyages to the West Indies and South America. 4. Pierre-Louis Dorey (1777-1856), a French military officer who served under Napoleon Bonaparte and fought in the Napoleonic Wars. 5. Juliette Dorey (1846-1922), a French artist and painter known for her portraits and landscapes.

It is worth noting that the Dorey surname has also undergone various spellings over time, such as Dory, Dorie, and Dorre, reflecting regional variations and changes in language and pronunciation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dorey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dorey 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. Channel Islands leads with 266 Doreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 89.08x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 266 89.08x
Dorset 176 26.61x
Hampshire 144 6.97x
Middlesex 140 1.39x
Surrey 80 1.63x
Sussex 57 3.36x
Somerset 36 2.22x
Lancashire 23 0.19x
Kent 21 0.61x
Glamorgan 17 0.97x
Essex 13 0.65x
Devon 9 0.43x
Gloucestershire 9 0.46x
Wiltshire 7 0.79x
Cornwall 6 0.53x
Cheshire 5 0.22x
Royal Navy 5 4.16x
Monmouthshire 4 0.55x
Warwickshire 4 0.16x
Yorkshire 3 0.03x
Berkshire 2 0.26x
Midlothian 2 0.15x
Durham 1 0.03x
Isle of Man 1 0.53x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Maryde Castro in Channel Islands leads with 69 Doreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 940.05x.

Place Total Index
St Maryde Castro 69 940.05x
St Helier 47 48.35x
St Michaelinthe Vale 34 318.95x
New Alresford 31 579.44x
West Lulworth 31 2649.57x
Portsea 29 7.16x
St Sampson 28 208.02x
Chiswick 24 43.59x
Corfe Castle 24 391.52x
Ealing 24 26.65x
Lambeth 24 2.73x
St Peter Port 23 41.64x
Trinity 22 318.38x
Poole St James 18 72.43x
Christchurch 16 35.72x
St Gilesin Fields London 16 187.57x
Church Knowle 14 721.65x
Brighton 13 3.79x
Keynsham 13 111.59x
Wool 13 738.64x
East Stoke 12 597.01x
Islington London 12 1.23x
Alverstoke 11 14.71x
Battersea 11 2.97x
Farlington 11 260.66x
St Lawrence 11 134.97x
Hove 10 13.41x
Portland 10 28.12x
St Martin 10 54.67x
Portsmouth 9 18.92x
Eastergate 8 1428.57x
Soberton 8 210.53x
Steeple 8 784.31x
Swanage 8 98.04x
West Ham 8 1.82x
Winfrith Newburgh 8 241.69x
Barrow In Furness 7 4.30x
Camberwell 7 1.09x
Great Crosby 7 21.47x
Newington 7 1.88x
Penge 7 10.87x
St Pancras London 7 0.86x
Tellisford 7 2413.79x
Timberscombe 7 522.39x
Torteval 7 534.35x
Twerton 7 41.84x
Bromley London 6 2.71x
Chatham 6 6.34x
Clapham 6 731.71x
Droxford 6 76.14x
Lewisham 6 3.27x
Saltash 6 67.80x
South Hamlet 6 49.06x
St John 6 105.26x
Wareham Lady St Mary 6 117.42x
Briton Ferry 5 23.89x
Carshalton 5 26.61x
Hammersmith London 5 2.01x
Harting 5 113.12x
Neath 5 14.01x
New Brentford 5 94.16x
Poplar London 5 2.63x
Puddletrenthide 5 193.80x
Royal Navy 5 4.87x
Sharples 5 38.55x
West Tarring 5 197.63x
Westminster St John 5 4.07x
Birmingham 4 0.47x
Christchurch 4 17.75x
Clase 4 6.13x
East Holme 4 1290.32x
Limehouse London 4 3.62x
Milford 4 66.34x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 2.48x
Ratcliffe London 4 7.19x
St George Hanover Square 4 2.25x
Sutton In Macclesfield 4 17.33x
Walthamstow 4 5.59x
Winterborne Houghton 4 465.12x
Upham 3 132.74x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 68
William 52
George 49
James 36
Charles 24
Thomas 23
Joseph 16
Henry 15
Arthur 12
Richard 12
Alfred 11
Frederick 11
Albert 9
Nicholas 7
Robert 7
Harry 6
Peter 6
Walter 6
Daniel 5
Stephen 5
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Frank 4
Jesse 4
Philip 4
Samuel 4
David 3
Edwin 3
Jean 3
Tom 3
Wm. 3
Adolphus 2
Ambrose 2
Andrew 2
Devic 2
Frederic 2
Gilbert 2
Harold 2
Herbert 2
Hillary 2
Hirzel 2
Howell 2
Isaac 2
Joshua 2
Luke 2
Michael 2
Sydney 2
Franis 1
Wm.Geo. 1

FAQ

Dorey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dorey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 761 people were recorded with the Dorey surname. That placed it at #4,855 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dorey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,093 in 2016. That gives Dorey a modern rank of #5,363.

What does the Dorey surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the French village of Audrey.

What does the Dorey map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dorey 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.