Recorded in the spellings of Dore, Dorin, Dory, Dorey and Doorey, this is an ancient surname of either pre 7th century Olde English or 11th century Norman French origins. If English it derives from "dor" meaning gold, and in the locational context a golden valley, or if French from the Latin "aurum" which curiously also means gold. However the English "Dore" clearly refers to the two villages so-named in Derbyshire and Herefordshire, whilst the French form is job descriptive for a gilder or goldsmith.. The surname, however spelt, has no connection whatsoever with the fish or the flat bottomed boat called a 'Dory'. This is an Indian word from Honduras, 'imported' into Europe in the 18th century. The early surname recordings include Abbas de Dore of Hereford, and John Dory of Lincoln both in the year 1273, and Thomas de Dore of Yorkshire, in the Poll Tax Rolls of that county in 1379. French church recordings include Jean Dourin of Angers on January 26th 1632, and Jean Doree of Chatuzange Le Goubet, Drome, on June 14th 1667. In England Darathe Dorye was recorded at St Margarets, Westminster, on November 11th 1579, whilst Andree Doree, a French Huguenot, was recorded at Threadneedle Street French Church, London, on September 6th 1691. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Dore, which was dated 1272, in the Hundred Rolls of the city of Bedford, during the reign of King Edward 1st known as 'The hammer of the Scots', 1272 - 1307.

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