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

Dorrell, 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 Dorrell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dorrell in America

Dorrell is the 19138th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dorrell surname appeared 1,420 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 Dorrell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dorrell 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 Dorrell

The surname Dorrell has its origins in England, with records indicating its presence as early as the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "dor" meaning door and "hill," suggesting a possible connection to a location or settlement near a prominent hill or gateway.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Doryl." This early spelling variation highlights the fluid nature of surnames in medieval times, often influenced by regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

The Dorrell surname is thought to have originated in the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, where it was particularly prevalent during the Middle Ages. In the early 14th century, a Thomas Dorel is mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire, indicating the presence of the name in that region.

While the Dorrell name does not appear in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, it is possible that its origins can be traced back to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The influx of French and Norman settlers during this period had a significant impact on the development of English surnames.

Notable individuals bearing the Dorrell surname include Sir John Dorrell (c. 1470-1538), a prominent English merchant and Sheriff of London in the early 16th century. Another distinguished figure was Henry Dorrell (1614-1680), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Buckingham.

In the literary realm, the name is associated with Dorothy Dorrell (1914-1995), a British novelist and children's writer known for her works such as "The Squire's Daughter" and "The Merry Christmas Feast." Her contributions to children's literature have left a lasting impact.

The Dorrell name also has a connection to the military, with Major General James Dorrell (1823-1893) serving as a notable officer in the British Army during the 19th century. He participated in various campaigns, including the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

Another individual of note is Sir William Dorrell (1745-1826), a British naval officer and Member of Parliament who played a role in the American Revolutionary War and later served as a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty.

Throughout its history, the Dorrell surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Dorrill, Dorill, Dorryll, and Dorryll, reflecting the evolving nature of language and regional influences over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dorrell

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

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

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

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