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Dorey Family History

Dorey Name 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


Similar surnames: Dore, Morey, Dormer, Dorsey, Dorney, Dory, Dorer, Corey, Corby, Doyen

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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 1911 there were 155 Dorey families living in Nova Scotia. This was about 57% of all the recorded Dorey's in Canada. Nova Scotia had the highest population of Dorey families in 1911.
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.

What did your Dorey ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Laborer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Dorey. 25% of Dorey men worked as a Farmer and 38% of Dorey women worked as a Laborer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dorey were Laborer and Cashier. .

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 1921

  • Farmer
    25%
  • Labourer
    20%
  • Lumberman
    14%
  • Laborer
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Laborer
    38%
  • Farmer
    38%
  • Cashier
    25%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

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 Canadian 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 Canada, 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.

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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

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