Explore the Family Name Dorchester
The meaning of Dorchester
English (Middlesex and Berkshire): habitational name either from Dorchester in Oxfordshire, or Dorchester, the county seat of Dorset. Both stem from Celtic names, Dorcic and Durnovaria respectively, + Old English ceaster ‘Roman fort or walled city’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Dorchester in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Dorchester has increased in the United States between 2000 and 2010. The data indicates that the rank of this surname rose from 90,652 in 2000 to 79,338 in 2010, marking a 12.48 percent increase. The count, which represents the number of individuals with this surname, also saw an increase from 189 in 2000 to 240 in 2010, a growth of nearly 27 percent. The proportion per 100,000 people grew by about 14.29 percent during this ten-year period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #90,652 | #79,338 | 12.48% |
| Count | 189 | 240 | 26.98% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.07 | 0.08 | 14.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Dorchester
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Dorchester also experienced changes as per the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, the majority of those bearing the Dorchester surname identified as White (84.66 percent), followed by American Indian and Alaskan Native (12.70 percent). By 2010, there were noticeable shifts in ethnicity representation, although the White demographic remained dominant at 77.08 percent. However, this marked a decrease of almost 9 percent. Meanwhile, new identifications emerged in 2010, including Asian/Pacific Islander (2.50 percent), Black (5.00 percent), Hispanic (4.58 percent), and those identifying with two or more races (2.08 percent). The representation of American Indian and Alaskan Native decreased to 8.75 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 84.66% | 77.08% | -8.95% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 12.7% | 8.75% | -31.1% |
| Black | 0% | 5% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 4.58% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 2.5% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 2.08% | 0% |