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

Dorsch, 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 Dorsch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dorsch in America

Dorsch is the 17734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dorsch surname appeared 1,580 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Dorsch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dorsch 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 Dorsch

The surname DORSCH is of German origin, originating in the regions of Bavaria and Swabia. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "dorsch," meaning "codfish" or "haddock." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname for someone associated with the fishing trade or someone who frequently consumed or sold this type of fish.

The earliest recorded instances of the DORSCH surname date back to the 14th century. In 1349, a document from the city of Nuremberg mentioned a certain "Heinrich Dorsch," indicating that the name was already in use at that time. Additionally, the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from Brandenburg, includes references to individuals with the surname DORSCH in the late 15th century.

During the medieval period, the DORSCH name appeared in various records and manuscripts across southern Germany. For instance, the Weingarten Abbey in Baden-Württemberg kept records of land transactions involving individuals with the DORSCH surname in the 16th century.

One of the earliest notable figures with the DORSCH surname was Johann Christoph Dorsch (1636-1701), a German composer and organist from Nuremberg. He is known for his contributions to the development of the organ sonata and his works for church music.

Another influential figure was Johann Georg Dorsch (1758-1819), a German theologian and philosopher from Swabia. He served as a professor of philosophy at the University of Tübingen and published several works on ethics and moral philosophy.

In the 19th century, Johann Baptist Dorsch (1814-1883), a German Catholic priest and writer, gained recognition for his religious works and his involvement in the establishment of the Schwestern vom Guten Hirten (Sisters of the Good Shepherd) order in Bavaria.

One of the most notable individuals with the DORSCH surname was Anton Dorsch (1858-1938), a German architect and master builder from Munich. He was responsible for the design and construction of several prominent buildings in Bavaria, including the Bavarian National Museum in Munich.

Another significant figure was Hans Dorsch (1888-1945), a German military officer who served in both World War I and World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, one of the highest military honors in Nazi Germany, for his service during World War II.

While these are just a few examples, the DORSCH surname has a rich history in Germany, particularly in the southern regions, with individuals from various professions and backgrounds bearing this name over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dorsch

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

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

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

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