2000
#136,783
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Dorrah
An Arabic surname possibly derived from the word "dorra" meaning "pearl" or "gem".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 130 Americans carry the last name Dorrah. That puts it at #147,221 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,636,572 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dorrah surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
130
1 in 2,636,572
Census rank
#147,221
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
113
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 113 bearers of the surname Dorrah in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147221st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dorrah, the largest self-reported group is Black at 61.9%. The next largest groups are White (31.9%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dorrah
The surname DORRAH has its roots in the Middle Eastern region, with origins tracing back to ancient Persia (modern-day Iran) and the surrounding areas. It is believed to have derived from the Persian word "Dorr," which means "pearl" or "precious stone." This connection suggests that the name may have initially been associated with families involved in the pearl trade or those who possessed wealth and status.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical manuscripts from the 9th century, where a Persian merchant named Dorrah Ibn al-Khazari was mentioned as a prominent figure in the silk and spice trade routes between Persia and the Mediterranean region. This reference indicates that the name was already established during the Islamic Golden Age, a time of great cultural and economic prosperity in the Middle East.
As the name spread across the region, it likely underwent various spelling variations due to the influence of different languages and dialects. For example, in Arabic-speaking regions, it may have been spelled as "Durrah" or "Durra," while in Turkish-influenced areas, it could have been rendered as "Dura" or "Dorra."
In the 12th century, a notable figure named Dorrah al-Bakri was recorded as a renowned scholar and historian from Baghdad, known for his contributions to the fields of geography and Islamic studies. His work, titled "Al-Masalik wa'l-Mamalik" (The Roads and Kingdoms), provided valuable insights into the trade routes and cultural landscapes of the region during that era.
During the Ottoman Empire's reign in the 16th century, a high-ranking military commander named Dorrah Pasha was mentioned in historical accounts for his role in the conquest of Egypt and the subsequent administration of the region. His descendants likely continued to carry the surname, contributing to its further spread and recognition.
In more recent times, one notable figure with the surname DORRAH was Ahmad Dorrah, an influential Egyptian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the 1960s. He played a crucial role in shaping Egypt's foreign policy and strengthening its relations with other nations during a pivotal period in the country's history.
Another individual of note was Salim Dorrah, an acclaimed Lebanese writer and poet who lived in the early 20th century. His literary works, which often explored themes of identity and cultural heritage, gained recognition both within the Arab world and internationally.
It is worth noting that while the surname DORRAH has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchanges. However, the historical references and examples provided offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of the name's origins and its significance throughout different eras and regions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dorrah
Among Census respondents with the surname Dorrah, the largest self-reported group is Black at 61.9%. The next largest groups are White (31.9%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Dorrah bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Dorrah surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American61.9% · 70
- White31.9% · 36
- Hispanic or Latino2.7% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.7% · 3
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Dorrah
Dorrah appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#150,452
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
-4 bearers (-3.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 13,669 places
2020
#147,221
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
+4 bearers (+3.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 3,231 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #136,783 | 113 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #150,452 | 109 | 0.04 | -4 bearers (-3.5%) | Down 13,669 places |
| 2020 | #147,221 | 113 | 0.04 | +4 bearers (+3.7%) | Up 3,231 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Dorrah surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #150,452 | #147,221 | 2.1% |
| Count | 109 | 113 | 3.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -5.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Dorrah bearers went from 109 to 113 (+3.7% change). The surname moved up 3,231 positions in the national ranking, going from #150,452 to #147,221.
FAQ
Dorrah surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Dorrah?
Name Census estimates that about 130 living Americans carry the surname Dorrah. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,636,572 residents.
How common is Dorrah?
Dorrah ranks #147,221 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 113 people with the surname Dorrah. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (130), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Dorrah.
Has Dorrah become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Dorrah went from 109 recorded bearers to 113. That is an increase of 4 (+3.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #150,452 to #147,221.
What does the Census say about the background of Dorrah?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dorrah, the largest self-reported group is Black at 61.9%. The next largest groups are White (31.9%) and Hispanic (2.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Dorrah in the 2020 Census, accounting for 61.9% (70 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Dorrah appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (61.9%), White (31.9%), Hispanic (2.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Dorrah (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Dorrah mean?
An Arabic surname possibly derived from the word "dorra" meaning "pearl" or "gem". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Dorrah (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Dorrah?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.