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Dorsay Family History

Dorsay Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Dorsey, Dorsa, Dorsky, Dorman, Dorney, Dorsch, Dorst, Duray, Dray

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Dorsay family from?

You can see how Dorsay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dorsay family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dorsay families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there was 1 Dorsay family living in Michigan. This was about 50% of all the recorded Dorsay's in USA. Michigan and 1 other state had the highest population of Dorsay families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dorsay surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Dorsay ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Dorsay. 33% of Dorsay men worked as a Laborer and 15% of Dorsay women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dorsay were Salesman and Laborer. .

View Census Data for Dorsay | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    33%
  • Mechanic
    13%
  • Machinist
    13%
  • Salesman
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    15%
  • Cook
    15%
  • Housework
    9%
  • Laborer
    9%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Dorsay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Dorsay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dorsay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Dorsay

Passenger Lists

There are 581 immigration records available for the last name Dorsay. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Dorsay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 904 military records available for the last name Dorsay. For the veterans among your Dorsay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dorsay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dorsay family history

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What is the average Dorsay lifespan?

Between 1961 and 2004, in the United States, Dorsay life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1970. The average life expectancy for Dorsay in 1961 was 44, and 92 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dorsay

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Dorsay family tree

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