Find out how popular the last name Dobra is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Dobra.

Dobra, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Dobra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dobra in America

Dobra is the 82044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dobra surname appeared 230 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Dobra.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dobra to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Dobra

The surname Dobra is of Polish origin, with records indicating its presence in the region during the early 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Slavic word "dobry," meaning "good" or "virtuous," suggesting that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals with admirable qualities or upstanding moral character.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dobra surname can be traced back to a manuscript from the town of Opole, located in present-day southwestern Poland, dated 1412. This document mentions a certain Jan Dobra, a local landowner and respected member of the community.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in various administrative records and legal documents across several Polish cities and towns, such as Krakow, Poznan, and Gdansk. Notable individuals bearing the Dobra surname from this period include Maciej Dobra (1521-1589), a respected scholar and theologian who taught at the University of Krakow, and Katarzyna Dobra (1545-1611), a noblewoman renowned for her philanthropic efforts in supporting orphanages and hospitals.

As the Dobra family dispersed across different regions of Poland over the centuries, variations in spelling emerged, such as Dobro and Dobrza. Some branches of the family adopted the name as a reference to their place of origin, as evidenced by the village of Dobra near the city of Opole, which likely took its name from an early settler or landowner bearing the Dobra surname.

In the 18th century, Andrzej Dobra (1712-1786) gained recognition as a skilled craftsman and master woodcarver, contributing his intricate works to several churches and cathedrals throughout southern Poland. Another notable figure was Zofia Dobra (1755-1822), a respected educator and pioneer in establishing one of the first schools for girls in the city of Krakow.

Moving into the 19th century, the Dobra surname was further dispersed across Europe, with some individuals emigrating to other countries. One such example is Józef Dobra (1824-1891), a Polish-born painter and artist who achieved recognition for his landscape works in France, where he spent a significant portion of his career.

Throughout its history, the Dobra surname has maintained a strong presence in Poland, with various notable individuals contributing to various fields, including academia, arts, and public service. While the specific origins and meanings of surnames can be subject to interpretation, the Dobra name remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage and diversity of Polish society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dobra

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Dobra.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Dobra was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Dobra has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Dobra was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dobra, please contact us.

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