Show ContentsDortch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Dortch family

The surname Dortch was first found in Silesia, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation.

Early History of the Dortch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dortch research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dortch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dortch Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dorst, Dorste, Duerst, Duerste, Durste, Derst, Dorsts and many more.

Early Notables of the Dortch family

Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dortch Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dortch Ranking

In the United States, the name Dortch is the 4,399th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1


United States Dortch migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dortch Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Dortch, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1872 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Dortch (post 1700) +

  • Thomas W. Dortch Jr. (1950-2023), American businessman and civil rights leader, Chairman and CEO of TWD, Inc., CEO of the Atlanta Transportation Systems, Inc., Chairman and CEO of Cornerstone Parking
  • William Theophilus Dortch (1824-1889), American Democratic Party politician, Member of North Carolina State Legislature, 1852-60; Senator from North Carolina in the Confederate Congress, 1862-65; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from North Carolina, 1876; Member of North Carolina State Senate, 1879-85
  • William P. Dortch, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Smyrna, 1916-17
  • W. T. Dortch, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from North Carolina, 1912 3
  • David Dortch Warriner (1929-1986), United States federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • Helen Dortch Longstreet (1863-1962), American author and feminist, better known as the "Fighting Lady"


The Dortch Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sperare et Resignare
Motto Translation: Hope and resign


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, September 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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