Explore the Family Name Dorothy
The meaning of Dorothy
English (Devon): from the female personal name Dorothy, Latin and Greek Dorothea, composed of Greek dōron ‘gift’ and theos ‘God’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Dorothy in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Dorothy has seen a decline from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it ranked 25,845th in terms of frequency among all surnames in the United States, but its rank slipped to 29,550th by 2010, indicating a decrease of 14.34 percent. The actual count of individuals bearing the surname also decreased over this period, falling from 894 to 798, a decrease of 10.74 percent. Consequently, the proportion of people with the surname Dorothy per 100,000 population also fell by 18.18 percent, from 0.33 in 2000 to 0.27 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,845 | #29,550 | -14.34% |
| Count | 894 | 798 | -10.74% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.33 | 0.27 | -18.18% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Dorothy
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the Dorothy surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows several shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander with this surname significantly decreased by 64.80 percent, while the Hispanic representation also dropped by 30.25 percent. The proportion of individuals of two or more races remained stable. On the other hand, the percentage of Whites slightly increased by 0.54 percent, and the Black community showed a growth of 15.16 percent. Additionally, there was a significant increase (48.51 percent) in the population identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native with the Dorothy surname.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 83.89% | 84.34% | 0.54% |
| Black | 8.05% | 9.27% | 15.16% |
| Hispanic | 3.24% | 2.26% | -30.25% |
| Two or More Races | 2.01% | 2.01% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.01% | 1.5% | 48.51% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.79% | 0.63% | -64.8% |