2000
#4,925
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,556
First available Census row
Per 100,000 2.43
Rare Last name
Dorris
French toponymic surname derived from the name of a town or village, possibly meaning "gilded" or "golden."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 7,191 Americans carry the last name Dorris. That puts it at #5,367 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 47,664 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dorris 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Dorris with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
7.2K
1 in 47,664
Census rank
#5,367
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,271 bearers of the surname Dorris in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5367th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dorris, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.3%. The next largest groups are Black (12.7%) and Two or More Races (4.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dorris
The surname Dorris is believed to have originated in England, with roots tracing back to the medieval era. It is thought to be a variant of the Old English word "dor," meaning door or gate, potentially suggesting an association with a gatekeeper or someone who lived near a notable entrance.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Dores" or "Dores," referring to a location or individual. This ancient manuscript, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across various regions of England.
In the 13th century, the name took on the spelling "Doris," which was commonly used in areas such as Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. This spelling variation is believed to have emerged as a result of local dialects and the evolution of language over time.
Among the notable individuals who bore this surname is John Dorris, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 15th century. His name appears in various civic records and chronicles of the time, reflecting the influence and standing of his family within the mercantile circles of medieval England.
Another historical figure associated with this surname is Sir Richard Dorris, a distinguished military commander who fought alongside King Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. His bravery and leadership earned him recognition and land grants, solidifying the Dorris family's status among the English gentry.
In the 16th century, the name underwent further spelling variations, including "Dorrys" and "Dorriss," as evidenced in parish records and legal documents from various counties across England. This period also saw the emergence of notable Dorris families in regions like Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
One of the most renowned individuals with this surname was Sir William Dorris (1562-1631), a prominent lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of England during the reign of King Charles I. His legal acumen and reputation for integrity left a lasting impact on the English judicial system.
Another noteworthy figure was Elizabeth Dorris (1633-1698), a renowned author and poet whose works explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality. Her literary contributions earned her acclaim and recognition among the intellectual circles of 17th-century England.
As the centuries passed, the Dorris surname continued to spread across various regions of the British Isles, with different branches establishing themselves in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. The name's enduring presence in historical records and its association with notable individuals reflects its deep-rooted heritage within the tapestry of British history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dorris
Among Census respondents with the surname Dorris, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.3%. The next largest groups are Black (12.7%) and Two or More Races (4.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Dorris 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 Dorris surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White78.3% · 4,910
- Black or African American12.7% · 795
- Two or more races4.4% · 277
- Hispanic or Latino3.4% · 213
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 49
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 27
Timeline
Historical Census data for Dorris
Dorris 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
#5,251
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,644
+88 bearers (+1.3%)
Per 100,000 2.25
Rank movement Down 326 places
2020
#5,367
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,271
-373 bearers (-5.6%)
Per 100,000 2.10
Rank movement Down 116 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #4,925 | 6,556 | 2.43 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #5,251 | 6,644 | 2.25 | +88 bearers (+1.3%) | Down 326 places |
| 2020 | #5,367 | 6,271 | 2.10 | -373 bearers (-5.6%) | Down 116 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 Dorris 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 | #5,251 | #5,367 | -2.2% |
| Count | 6,644 | 6,271 | -5.6% |
| Per 100K | 2.25 | 2.10 | -6.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Dorris bearers went from 6,644 to 6,271 (-5.6% change). The surname moved down 116 positions in the national ranking, going from #5,251 to #5,367.
FAQ
Dorris surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Dorris?
Name Census estimates that about 7,191 living Americans carry the surname Dorris. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 47,664 residents.
How common is Dorris?
Dorris ranks #5,367 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 2.10 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 6,271 people with the surname Dorris. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (7,191), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 2.1 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 2.10 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Dorris.
Has Dorris become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Dorris went from 6,644 recorded bearers to 6,271. That is a decrease of 373 (-5.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #5,251 to #5,367.
What does the Census say about the background of Dorris?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dorris, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.3%. The next largest groups are Black (12.7%) and Two or More Races (4.4%). 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?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Dorris in the 2020 Census, accounting for 78.3% (4,910 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Dorris appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (78.3%), Black (12.7%), Two or More Races (4.4%). 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 Dorris (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 Dorris mean?
French toponymic surname derived from the name of a town or village, possibly meaning "gilded" or "golden." 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 Dorris (2.10 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 common is the surname Dorris?
See how many Americans have the surname Dorris on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.