The name Deloris is derived from the Latin name Dolores, which means "sorrows" or "sufferings." It is closely related to the name Dolores, and is believed to have originated in the late Middle Ages as a reference to the Sorrows of the Virgin Mary in Christian theology.

The earliest recorded use of the name Deloris can be traced back to the 16th century, when it was used as a feminine form of the name Dolores in some regions of Europe, particularly in Spain and Portugal. It is thought that the name may have been influenced by the Spanish and Portuguese devotion to the Virgin Mary and the veneration of her sorrows as depicted in religious art and literature.

One of the earliest known individuals with the name Deloris was Deloris Gonzalez, a Spanish noblewoman who lived in the late 16th century. She was noted for her charitable works and her support of religious institutions in her region.

In the 17th century, the name Deloris gained some popularity in parts of France and Italy, possibly due to the influence of Spanish and Portuguese culture in those regions. One notable figure from this period was Deloris de Montfort, a French nun who founded a convent in Paris in the mid-1600s.

As the name spread across Europe, it also found its way to the Americas through Spanish and Portuguese colonization. In the 18th century, there are records of a Deloris Quintana, who was a landowner and philanthropist in colonial Mexico.

In the 19th century, the name Deloris became more widely used in the United States, particularly among families with Spanish or Portuguese heritage. One prominent figure with this name was Deloris Alvarez, an American educator and activist who advocated for the rights of Spanish-speaking communities in the early 20th century.

Another notable individual with the name Deloris was Deloris Jordan, the mother of basketball legend Michael Jordan. She was born in 1938 and played a significant role in supporting and guiding her son's successful career.