Show ContentsDoray History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Medieval society of France produced the name of Doray. It was a Breton name given to a person with blond hair. Other references show the name was originally derived from the Old French word d'ore, which meant of gold.

Early Origins of the Doray family

The surname Doray was first found in Brittany, where the family first established itself as an important participant in the cultural and political events of the region.

Early History of the Doray family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Doray research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1718, 1800, 1832, 1855, 1861, 1863, 1866 and 1883 are included under the topic Early Doray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Doray Spelling Variations

Most surnames have experienced slight spelling changes. A son may not chose to spell his name the same way that his father did. Many were errors, many deliberate. During the early development of the French language, a person usually gave his version, phonetically, to a scribe, a priest, or a recorder. Prefixes or suffixes varied. They were optional as they passed through the centuries, or were adopted by different branches to signify either a political or religious adherence. Hence, there a many spelling variations of the name Doray, including Doré, Dorée, Dore, Doret, Dorot, Dorat, Daurat, Doray, Dorey, Doreau, Dorin, Daurin, Daurinet, Dorer and many more.

Early Notables of the Doray family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Doray Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Doray family

France finally gave land incentives for 2,000 migrants during the 1700s. Early marriage was encouraged in New France, and youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted migrants, both noble and commoner from France. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries, leaving French names scattered across the continent. The search for the Northwest passage continued. Migration from France to New France or Quebec, as it was now more popularly called, continued until 1759. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In the treaty of Utrecht, the Acadians were ceded by France to Britain in 1713. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported. They found refuge in Louisiana. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many of this distinguished family name Doray were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Doray were Louis Dore, who arrived in Quebec, Canada in 1670; Thomas Dore who arrived in America in 1728; Jacob Dorer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1744; Antoine Dore, who settled in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1770.



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