English
The surname 'Doran' is of Irish origin. It is has been Anglicised in the Gaelic form 'O'Deoradhain' meaning 'descendant of Dearadhan', a byname representing a diminutive of the name 'deoradh', meaning 'pilgrim', 'stranger', 'exile',. In English it is a variant of the given name 'Durant'. Public and Civil registry archive's confirm that the surname 'Doran' and or it's variant's, date as far back as the fifteenth century, where they were seated a Chappell, County Wexford, in 1540. The English accused them of 'succouring rebellious plunderers in their judicial (brehon) capacity'. A generation later, however, they were actually consulted by the Lord Deputy on a question of Government administration, and in 1608 they are listed as among the principal Gentlemen of County Wexford. The place name Doransland emphasises their association with that county. Historical archive's have been unable to definitely determine the exact period of settlement in North America but It is believed that the forefather's of this surname were part of the exodus of migrants that followed the Treaty of Peace signed in Paris in 1763, when great Britain obtained ownership of the whole of North America east of the Missisipi River excepting New Orleans. The chief reasons causing working class people to emigrate were, poor crop yields, high unemployment, and the misconception that America was a land of golden opportunity. It is has been estimated that after 1769 some 20,000 persons a year migrated to the Americas from the British Isles. Today, 'Doran' is the 'One thousand six hundred and twentieth' most common surname in North America.