Show ContentsDoorey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Doorey is one of the thousands of new names that the Norman Conquest brought to England in 1066. The Doorey family lived in Herefordshire. The family settled in Dore in that county, and it is from this location that their surname derives.

Early Origins of the Doorey family

The surname Doorey was first found in Herefordshire at Dore Abbey, a former Cistercian abbey in the village of Abbey Dore in the Golden Valley. The abbey was founded in 1147 by Robert fitzHarold of Ewyas, the Lord of Ewyas Harold, and derives it name from the River Dore, a Celtic river-name meaning "the waters." 1

"This parish derives its name from its situation on the river Dore, and from an abbey of White or Cistercian monks, founded here in the reign of Stephen, by Robert, son of Harold, Lord of Ewyas, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St. Edmund." 2

Dore is also a village in South Yorkshire which is listed in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle c. 829 when King Egbert of Wessex led his army to the village to receive the submission of King Eanred of Northumbria. Some claim that Egbert became the first king of England at Dore. Today the "Dore Stone," located on the village green commemorates King Egbert's victory.

Early History of the Doorey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Doorey research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Doorey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Doorey Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Dore, Dorey, Dory, Dorie, Doar, Doare, Doore, Doorey, Doorie and many more.

Early Notables of the Doorey family

More information is included under the topic Early Doorey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Doorey family to Ireland

Some of the Doorey 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.

Migration of the Doorey family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Doorey or a variant listed above: James Dore who settled in Virginia in the year 1621; one year after the arrival of the "Mayflower"; followed by James in 1774; Mrs. Dore arrived in Norfolk Virginia in 1820 with her child.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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