Dorling History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The name Dorling comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name for a person who was greatly loved by his friends and family. The surname was originally derived from the word deorling, which meant darling. 1 2

Early Origins of the Dorling family

The surname Dorling was first found in Devon where Oter Dirlinges sunu was listed (1100-1130.) 3

However, another source claims there is an even older Saxon reference "AElfmar Dyrling, a noble youth is mentioned in the Saxon Chronicle." 4

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle dates back to the late 9th century probably in Wessex and was updated through 1154. The name Derling with no personal name was listed in Bedfordshire 1133-1160 and later in the Pipe Rolls of Devon in 1177. In the same year many miles to the north, the first listing of the name in Scotland was found specifically Derlig de Ardift who was a witness to a charter. 5

But continuing the quest in England, we found Durling atte Forde in 1330, William Dierling (Derling) in the Pipe Rolls of Devon 1195-1196. 3 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists: Ricardus Derlyng; Adam Derlyng; and Johannes Derlyng. 2

A few years later in Scotland, Waldevus Darling or Derlyng was a charter witness in Roxburgh c. 1338. Sir John Derlynge was precentor of Caithness in 1368 and later John Derling and Andrew Derling were burgesses of Edinburgh in 1381. 5

Early History of the Dorling family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dorling research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1772, 1775, 1778, 1793, 1815, 1825, 1831, 1838, 1842, 1848, 1858, 1860 and 1865 are included under the topic Early Dorling History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dorling Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Dorling has undergone many spelling variations, including Darling, Derling, Darlin, Durling, Darline, Derline, Derlin and many more.

Early Notables of the Dorling family

Distinguished members of the family include General Sir Ralph Darling, GCH (1772-1858), a British colonial Governor and the seventh Governor of New South Wales (from 19 December 1825 to 22 October 1831). He "was son of Christopher Darling, who was promoted from sergeant-major to the adjutancy of the 45th foot in...
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dorling Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dorling family to Ireland

Some of the Dorling family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dorling migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Dorling were among those contributors:

Dorling Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Moses Dorling, who arrived in America in 1760-1763 6

Dorling migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Dorling Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Dorling, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for life, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 27 September 1834, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
William Dorling, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Princess Royal" in 1848 8
Caroline Dorling, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Princess Royal" in 1848 8
Samuel Dorling, aged 36, a brickmaker, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Caucasian" 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Dorling (post 1700) +

Sir Walter Dorling Smiles CIE, DSO, DL (b. 1883), Northern Irish politician who died in the sinking of the ferry Princess Victoria during the North Sea Floods

Citations +

Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PRINCESS ROYAL 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848PrincessRoyal.htm
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BARQUE CAUCASIAN 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/caucasian1852.shtml