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

Dorsam, 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 Dorsam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dorsam in America

Dorsam is the 129825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dorsam surname appeared 131 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 Dorsam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dorsam 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 Dorsam

The surname Dorsam is of German origin, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, particularly in the vicinity of the city of Augsburg. The name is derived from the Old High German word "dorfsam," which translates to "village" or "settlement."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Dorsam name can be found in the Augsburg Tax Records of 1324, where a certain Heinrich Dorsam is listed as a landowner. This suggests that the Dorsam family had already established itself as a prominent presence in the region by the early 14th century.

During the 15th century, the Dorsam name appears in several historical documents related to the city of Nuremberg. Notable among these is the Nuremberg Chronicle, a renowned illustrated world history book published in 1493, which features an engraving depicting a member of the Dorsam family.

In the 16th century, the Dorsam family gained further prominence and spread to other parts of Germany. Johannes Dorsam (1492-1569), a Lutheran theologian and reformer, was a notable figure during this period. He played a significant role in the Reformation movement and was a close associate of Martin Luther.

Another prominent individual bearing the Dorsam name was Christoph Dorsam (1573-1638), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Elector of Saxony. His compositions, particularly his organ works, were highly regarded in his time and helped establish the Dorsam name in the realm of music.

The 17th century saw the emergence of Katharina Dorsam (1629-1698), a renowned herbalist and midwife from the town of Bamberg. Her expertise in traditional medicine and her compassionate care for mothers and infants earned her a reputation that extended beyond the borders of her local community.

In the 19th century, the Dorsam family continued to make its mark in various fields. Johann Dorsam (1816-1891), a German-American entrepreneur, founded the Dorsam Brewing Company in St. Louis, Missouri, which became one of the largest breweries in the Midwest during the latter half of the 19th century.

While the Dorsam surname may have evolved and spread to different parts of the world over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the historic regions of Bavaria and the surrounding areas, where it first gained prominence as a respected family name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dorsam

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

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

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

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