Dorling
One-Name Study
Topics
- About the Dorling One-Name Study
- Variants
- Origin of the surname
- Historical occurrences
- Frequency of the name
- Distribution of the name
- Data
- DNA project
- Links
- Contact Details
About the Dorling One-Name Study
Place mouse over photo on right above for information on photo, & click on photo to enlarge it.
I began researching my family history in 1982 and my maiden name Dorling as a one-name study soon after this. I wrote to all the Dorlings in the UK telephone dirctories in 1984. The Dorlings came mainly from East Anglia. I also have information on Dorlings right back to the Middle Ages when the surname was spelt as Dalling and de Dalling. I have information on nearly all 19th century Dorlings so if people can trace their Dorling ancestors to around 1900 I can usually identify them and their ancestry. I have placed most dorlings into family trees, identifying the main branches whose origins are all in Suffolk.
Of all male Dorlings born between 1800 and 1900, 63% can be assigned to one of the 9 main branches, and another 11% of unknown branch to Suffolk.
Main Dorling Branches
West Stow 14%
Bury St Edmunds 12%
Bacton 11%
Herringswell 9%
Barton mills 4%
Nacton 4%
Bedfield 4%
Dennington 3%
Framsden 2 %
branch unknown but with Suffolk birth place 11%
Variants
Originally the surname Dorling was spelt Dalling (to ryhme with 'falling') in East Anglia. The surname has been spelt variously as Dawling, Dawlin, Dorlin, Dorlen, Dorlen, Dallen, and even Dorlding.
Origin of the surname
The surname probably originates from the place names of Field Dalling and Wood Dalling in Norfolk and possibly from Dallinghoo in Suffolk. The earliest recorded instances of the Dalling name are in Norfolk as de Feldallyng, and de Dalling. By tudor times the surname is more common in Suffolk and the spelling gradually changes to Dalling to Dawling to Dorling. There is also some evidence of the 'Dalling' spelling in both Scotland and Devon and I would be interested to know how Dalling is pronounced in these places. There is also a Dallen variant from Ireland and there are instances of Dorling and variants from Europe and Russia. It is possible that the origin is a European clan called Dall / Dorl whose name gave rise to village names and then to surnames.
Historical occurrences
The epsom branch of the Dorling family has some of the most well known Dorlings - Taffrail (RN & author of sea stories), Henry (clerk of Epsom race course), Mrs Beeton of the cook books (Henry Dorlings step-daughter), Edward Earle Dorling (various roles & author of 'The Dorlings of Epsom'). Other branches have contributed the Dorling part of the Dorling-Kindersley publishers, Peter Dorling former newscaster, Danny Dorling (statistics & population etc) and many others who can be found by searching the internet.
Frequency of the name
In 1901 there were just over 700 Dorlings in the UK. There are now approximately 1000 Dorlings in the UK. This makes it a fairly rare surname.
Distribution of the name
Most Dorlings are in the UK, but there are Dorlings in other countries such as USA, South Africa and Australia.
Data
All births, marriages and deaths recorded by civil registration from 1837 to 1930. Most census returns (i.e. 1851, 61, 71, 81, 91, 1901), but not the 1911 yet. Many Dorlings in parish records, especially in East Anglia. Many wills and other historical records such as directories, apprentice records, land & tax records, and letters.
I am also trying to collect as many Dorling photos as possible, especially of 19th century and early 20th century Dorlings. I would be delighted if anyone can contribute photos of Dorlings or places they lived - please email a high quality image to me if possible- and let me know if you are happy for it to be put on the internet or not. Photos are available to view on Facebook where there is an album for each branch.
Below is a list of male Dorlings I have photos of, it may not be all the photos I have but it's the ones I've managed to list! Key to branch = WS = West Stow, B = Bacton, H = Herringswell, BSE = Bury St Edmunds, N = Nacton, D = Dennington, bed = Bedfield, BM = Barton Mills, L = Lowestoft, Fbse = descended via a female of the BSE branch
First Name, Year of Birth, Branch origin, Town of birth
albert 1875 BM wangford
benjamin 1897 ws wandsworth
cecil 1905 bed framlingham
charles 1892 12 09 B wandsworth
edward 1863 D st martin
edward 1855 unknown hampstead
edward 1845 B bacton
edward 1909 bedF framlingham
eric 1914 unknown cambridge
esau 1865 ws west stow
frederick 1872 bed ipswich
Fred 1880 BM
Frederick 1913 ws
freeman 1857.11.21 H barton mills
george 1902 B wandsworth
george 1900 B barnsley
george 1825 H barton mills
george 1853 B bacton
george 1918 ws edmonton
henry 1806 05 23 D bexhill
henry 1868 D croydon, addiscome s
henry 1834 D epsom
horace 1885 04 17 B bacton
jack 1926 05 13 B barnsley
James 1867 BM Wangford
james 1918 01 21 Fbse lewisham greenwich
James 1808 ws ingham NB: This is the earliest Dorling I have a photo of.
james 1884 04 09 ws dewsbury
james 1833 BM hockwood cum wilton
james 1851 ws st pancras
james 1825 ws west stow
James 1880 07.22 bseF farnham
james 1883 12 30 WS bse
john 1879 08 25 B walthamstow
john 1906.11.10 B walthamstow
john 1870 bse shoreditch hoxton
kenneth 1922 B? west ham
leonard 1905 ws edmonton
leslie 1897 bed holbrook
oliver 1865 ws culford
reginald 1892 BM
robert 1862 H chelmsford, springfi
robert 1882 B barnsley
robert 1873 H mile end
spencer 1891 WS culford
stanley 1896 10 04 B west ham
thomas 1832/3/6 L southwark? Bermondse
walter 1872 B bacton
william 1831 04 07 bed Framlingham
william 1843 02 18 B bacton
william 1821 06 10c ws west stow
william 1876 05 23 ws rugby
william 1865 BM Wangford
william 1775 D Ipswich (cs51 Epsom) NB This is a painting, not a photo
william 1901 10 12 ws edmonton
william 1857.11.21 H barton mills
DNA project
One of the aims of the DNA study is to see if any of the distinct Dorling branches share a common ancestor. By the 18th and 19th century there are several branches of Dorlings, each of which originates from a known male ancestor in Suffolk, UK. DNA testing has so far revealed that the 2 largest branches (Bury St Edmunds and West Stow) are related through a common ancestor. Who this is, or when they lived, we have yet to discover! So far the other main branches are not related to each other, e.g. Bacton, Barton Mills, Nacton (includes Easton), Dennington (includes Epsom). To date the 6 branches mentioned so far have been DNA tested and two of these have a DNA sequence that is rare in Europe. The Herringswell branch is yet to be tested - male descendents needed to volunteer!
Links
My very first Dorling website is still accessible on the internet though not all links work properly. My improved website which contained more information is no longer available as of August 2008 Orange withdrewn their service of hosting pre-made websites. However, I am beginning to put Dorling information in the 'notes' on the Dorling Ancestry profile page on facebook, so if you are on Facebook search for Dorling Ancestry (the profile rather than the group) and add it as a friend. Please email me via this site if you have Dorling ancestors, as I have lots of information!
Photos are still available at the dorlingfamilyhistory blog but I have not added new photos to it for a while as I am now using Facebook albums to display the photos.
However, I am currently creating photo albums on Facebook that anyone can access and these are organised by branch and give some biographical details (though not of living Dorlings unless they ask to be put on). They can be viewed by anyone (you don't have to join Facebook) at:
When the photo album comes up, double click on the first photo and it will be enlarged, then click on next / previous to move through the album. Unfortunately the links for these Facebook album seem to expire after a period of time, so if you can't view them sent me an email and I will send you a new link.
The Dorling Ancestry profile on Facebook can be accessed at - Dorling Ancestry but you need to be a Facebook member or join up to view the profile. There is also a Dorling Ancestry group on Facebook, though this is probably a little redundant now I have created the profile.
I would be really grateful for any contributions of photos, so if you can contribute any photos, please email them to me and let me know if you mind them being put on the internet.
Contact details
For further information, contact:
Mrs Karen E M Hemmingham
E-mail:
This page last updated 13 January 2012.
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Profiles of other one-name studies registered with the Guild may be found here.
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2007
This page was last modified
13 Jan 2012, 14:24
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