Dorff
A German locational surname referring to a village or small town.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 720 Americans carry the last name Dorff. That puts it at #35,537 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.21 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 476,048 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dorff surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
720
1 in 476,048
Census rank
#35,537
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
633
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 633 bearers of the surname Dorff in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.21 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 35537th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dorff, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dorff
The surname "DORFF" originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "dorf," which means "village" or "small settlement." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived in small rural communities or villages.
One of the earliest documented mentions of the name can be found in the records of the town of Nuremberg in 1287, where a person named Hermann Dorff is listed as a resident. Additionally, in the late 14th century, a Johannes Dorff is recorded as a citizen of the city of Cologne.
The name "DORFF" has also been linked to various place names across Germany, such as Dorffeld, Dorfborn, and Dorfhain, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
Among the notable historical figures bearing the surname "DORFF" is Johann Georg Dorff (1654-1719), a German lawyer and professor of law at the University of Jena. Another prominent individual was Johann Jakob Dorff (1682-1759), a German theologian and author who served as a pastor in Nuremberg.
In the realm of literature, Andreas Dorff (1662-1741) was a German writer and poet who gained recognition for his works in the baroque style. His contemporaries included Johann Christoph Gottschedig (1600-1667), a German poet and playwright who also carried the surname "DORFF."
Moving into the 19th century, Johann Baptist Dorff (1812-1885) was a German Catholic priest and theologian who made significant contributions to the study of church history and canon law.
It is worth noting that the spelling of the surname has evolved over time, with variations such as "Dorf," "Dorffe," and "Dorffer" appearing in various historical records and documents throughout the centuries.
Overall, the surname "DORFF" has a rich history deeply rooted in German culture and language, and it has been carried by numerous individuals who have left their mark in various fields, from law and theology to literature and academia.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dorff
Among Census respondents with the surname Dorff, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Dorff bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Dorff surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Two or more races1.9%
- Unknown or suppressed1.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Dorff surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #32,161 | #35,537 | -10.5% |
| Count | 676 | 633 | -6.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.25 | 0.21 | -16.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Dorff bearers went from 676 to 633 (-6.4% change). The surname moved down 3,376 positions in the national ranking, going from #32,161 to #35,537.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Dorff
FAQ
Dorff surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Dorff?
The surname Dorff holds position #35,537 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 720 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.21 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Dorff surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dorff, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.