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

Dora, 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 Dora surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dora in America

Dora is the 23943rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dora surname appeared 1,054 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 Dora.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dora 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 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 In a historical document from 1274, a man named Pere DORA was mentioned as a resident of the town of Lleida.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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dora

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

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 Dora 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 Dora 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 Dora was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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