At the site forebears.io the following data are found. The number of persons with the family name Dormans worldwide in 2014: 628.
Netherlands 377
Luxembourg 103
Belgium 79
USA 23
Germany 20
Australia 9
Switzerland 8
Love does not know nations borders, nor language borders. In South-Limburg as well as in North Rhine Westfalia the family name Dormans frequently occurs over centuries. It is possible that families with the name Dormans in both regions were linked to each other. In places where many people spoke with a dialect, language was not a hindrance to contact each other.
A possible link between our Limburg family (ref. 1,2,3,4) and the mediaeval French noble family ‘de Dormans’, originated from the French town Dormans in the region Champagne, has not been found. On internet however much data about this noble family was found, so a pedigree could be constructed, that starts about 1290. The French family goes extinct with Charles II de Dormans about 1550 (he has only daughters), so no relation with the Limburg family could be demonstrated (ref.5).
In the past centuries the name Dormans occurred very frequently in the border region (ref.6,7). In the 17th-19th centuries many acts were found in the cities of Geilenkirchen (including the villages Apweiler, Beeck, Brachelen, Hatterath, Huenshoven, Immendorf, Kraudorff, Prummern, Randerath, Setterich, Tripsrath, Waldenrath, Wurm), Aachen, Ubach and Welz. These cities are situated in the contemporary German North Rhine Westfalia eastern to Brunssum/Schinveld. At present time however the name Dormans is reported only twice in Germany: in Kleve and in Wiesbaden (ref.5). It seems that the name Dormans, like in France, goed extinct (ref.6). The family name Dormanns in Germany is now recorded 140 times (ref.5). They live mainly in Aachen, Düren, Emmendingen and Mönchengladbach.
The slip of the pen from Dormans to Dormanns appeared more often to occur in the past centuries in Germany. In 2007 the name Dormanns ocurred only 9 times in the Netherlands: in Utrecht and in Maastricht. These families descend from Edmund Dormanns, who was born at 17-10-1920 in Aachen. In 1908 he moved to Maastricht. His father Herman Dormanns was born in Aachen at 3-2-1874. Grandparents of Edmund descended also from Germany.
Besides the family names Dormans and Dormanns in Germany a few times other spellings of the family name occur as Durmans and Dorman. Of the family names Dormann, Doernmann, Doermans and Doermann it is not clear if it concerns the same family or another one.
Also a large number of acts with the name Dormans were found in other German regions, further away from the Dutch border as in Gernsheim near Darmstadt, Cologne, Rheiberg near Duisburg (Orsoy) and Weesel.
As a possible link between families from both countries is more realistic when we search in border communities, I have concentrated at Ubach/Kerkrade, Geilenkirchen and Aachen, all communities where many persons with the name Dormans/Dormanns were found. In my book (ref.1) in the 18th and 19th centuries the communities of Heerlen, Brunssum, Schimmert, Schinnen and Nuth were described as places with a large number of family members Dormans. In the Netherlands slips of the pen of the family name Dormans did not occur.
Besides many collected single data from Geilenkirchen and surroundings, of which the first act with the name Dormans was from 1641, a fair large pedigree from Geilenkirchen from 1671 till 1855 will be presented here.
I. Joannes Dormans (Durmans) born Niederheid-Geilenkirchen 1671, died Niederheid 20-4-1736, married Geilenkirchen 2-5-1700 Anna (Engen) Huben, born Tripsrath 1665, died 6-4-1738.
II-1. Theodorus Dormans, bapt. Niederheid-Geilenkirchen 22-3-1701.
II-2. Mathias Dormans, bapt. Niederheid-Geilenkirchen 23-3-1703, died Niederheidt-Geilenkirchen 28-1-1779, married Crutorf-Geilenkirchen 5-2-1739 with Agnes Pauls from Crutorf, born before 1721, died 1763. Five children:
III-1. Anna Catherina Dormans, bapt. Geilenkirchen 4-3-1740, godfather Peter Dormans. Married 1764 Johannes Lenzen.
III-2. Petronella Dormans, bapt. Niederheid/Geilenkirchen 23-10-1741, (godfather Joes Theodorus Dormans), died Niederheid, Geilenkirchen 5-8-1815, countrywoman, unmarried, married Geilenkirchen 23-2- 1762 Mathias Basten, unmarried, farmer. Eleven children:
IV-1. Mathias Basten, born Niederheid 3-8-1763, godfather Mathias Dormans, godmother Maria Dormans.
IV-2. Maria Barbara Basten, born Bochem, 12-11-1765, (godfather Henricus Dormans, godmother Maria Margaretha Dormans), died Nierstrass/Geilenkirchen 11-8-1828, married Heinrich Fuhren, Nierstrass/Geilenkirchen.
IV-3. Claire Agnes Basten, born Niederheid 11-10-1768, died Hochheid 26-1-1826, married Geilenkirchen 5-10-1806 Jean Joseph Dreesen, farmer, born Hochheid 4-3-1762.
IV-4. Joes Paulus Basten, born Niederheid 26-11-1770 (godmother Maria Gertrudis Dormans).
IV-5. Paul Basten, born Niederheid 1771, died Niederheid/ Geilenkirchen 16-9-1811, unmarried, farmer.
IV-6. Mathias Josephus Basten, born Niederheid 9-12-1773 (godmother Anna Catharina Dormans), died Niederheid 9-3- 1853, farmer, widower at decease, married Geilenkirchen 23- 10-1808 Marie Catharine Deckers, born Hochheid 18-8- 1783.
IV-7. Joannes Arnoldus Basten, Niederheid, farmer, born Niederheid 5-10-1776. Died Rischden/Geilenkirchen 29-3- 1838. Married Geilenkirchen 30-4-1802 Anna Elisabeth Paulessen, born Rischden/Geilenkirchen 4-7-1781.
IV-8. Johann Mathias Basten, born Niederheid 25-6-1779, died Niederheid 28-1-1855, farmer, married Geilenkirchen 17- 10-1815 Maria Sybilla Basten, from Julich, born Niederheid ca.1790, servant.
IV-9. Anna Maria Basten, born Niederheid 28-4-1782 (godmother Maria Dormans), died Niederheid 20-3-1862, widow at decease, married Geilenkirchen 8-10-1809 Pierre Joseph Knibelen from Bauchem, farmer, born Bauchem ca. 1783.
IV-10. Anna Gertrudis Basten, born Niederheid 17-12-1788.
IV-11. Maria Magdalena Basten, born Niederheid 17-12-1788.
III-3. Anna Gertrudis Dormans, born Geilenkirchen 7-4-1743.
III-4. Helena Dormans, born Niederheid/Geilenkirchen 29-3-1745, godmother Helena Dormans.
III-5. Anna Maria Dormans, born Niederheid/Geilenkirchen 7-5-1747.
II-3. Joannes Theodorus Dormans, born Niederheid-Geilenkirchen 19-1-1712, married Crutorf/Geilenkirchen 4-2-1748 Maria Pauls (von der Hofen, near Kraudorf).
II-4. Joannes Petrus Dormans (Dorman), born Heid-Geilenkirchen 2-10-1713, died 1757, married Anna Gertrudis Paulus (Pauls) 1725-1783. Two children:
III-1. Johannes Theodorus Dormans, born Niederheidt/Geilenkirchen 3-6- 1747, (godfather Theodorus Dormans), married Elisabeth Vossen. He had 9 children:
IV-1. Anna Gertrudis Dormans, bapt. Kraudorf 29-11-1770, (father Dorman, mother Vosens).
IV-2. Joannis Melchior Dormans, bapt. Kraudorf 20-12-1773, (father Dorman, mother Vosen).
IV-3. Joannes Petrus Dormans, bapt. Kraudorf 14-10-1776.
IV-4. Joannes Franciscus Dormans, bapt. Kraudorf 20-12-1779.
IV-5. Petronella Dormans, bapt. Kraudorf 15-5-1783, died 1783.
After May 1783 he married for the second time in Randerath with Anna Catharina Franzens. Children:
IV-6. Michaelis Dormans, bapt. Kraudorf 27-6-1784.
IV-7. Henricus Dormans, bapt. Kraudorf 19-5-1785.
IV-8. Tilmanus Dormans, bapt. Kraudorf 2-6-1786, from Randerath, servant, married Petronella Verpoorten from Randerath,
V-1.Leonard Dormans, born Randerath, 10-7-1817, died Siegburg 9-12-1868, widower at decease, weaver, day- labourer, gardener, retail dealer, married Geilenkirchen 27-4- 1842 Maria Sibilla Jopen (Joppen), from Geilenkirchen, born Rischden/Geilenkirchen 22- 12-1808, died 16-12- 1856, servant. Six children:
VI-1. Maria Gertrud (Sophia) Dormans born Geilenkirchen 18-9-1843.
VI-2. Leonard Dormans, born Geilenkirchen 28-4-1845
VI-3. Johann Dormans, born Geilenkirchen 18-4-1847.
VI-4. Gertrud Dormans, born Geilenkirchen 28-6-1849, married in Geilenkirchen 16-4- 1875 Johann Joseph Hubert Débache, from Geilenkirchen, born Geilenkirchen 5-12- 1851, butcher, sun of Johann Adolf Débache, cooper from Geilenkirchen, and Barbara Frank.
VI-5. Conrad Dormans, born Geilenkirchen 7-4-1852.
VI-6. Peter Dormans, born Geilenkirchen 29-5-1855, died Richterich 1927.
IV-9. Johannes Petrus Dormans, bapt. Kraudorf 28-1-1791.
III-2. Maria Agnes Dormans, bapt. before 1758, died 1785, married 28-7-1776 Johannes Franciscus von der Heyden, bapt. before 1758.
The next pedigree from 1750 till 1898 from Ubach/Kerkrade, partly reported in my book (ref.1) as single data, has been extended with German data, but still has not been connected with the South-Limburg pedigree.
I-1 Jean Pierre Dormans, born about 1754, brother of Chretien:
I-2 Chretien (Christian) Dormans, born ± 1750, died Ubach (D) 20-01-1796. He married for the first time Jeanne (June) Deroer (Daroi, Durov), died Ubach (D) 02-02-1784. From this marriage two children:
II-1. Jean Joseph Dormans, born Ubach (D) 11-03-1782, living in Kapel, Kerkrade; died Kerkrade 25-06- 1856. By his marriage Jean Joseph was exempted from the National Militia. Farmer, labourer, married from Schaesberg in Kerkrade 26-01-1809 Marie Catherine Hanssen, born Kerkrade 11-05-1788, daughter of Bartholomeus Hanssen, died Kerkrade 04-04-1791, and Rosalie Amelie Frings. From this marriage 10 children:
III-1. Pierre Joseph Dormans, born Kerkrade 01-11-1809, died Kerkrade 16-09-1811.
III-2. Maria Sibilla Dormans, born Kerkrade 16-06-1811, died Kerkrade 30-03-1815.
III-3. Gerard Joseph Dormans, born Kerkrade 04-03-1815, died Kerkrade 17-03-1815
III-4. Jean Bernard Joseph Dormans, born Kerkrade 01-03-1816, died Kerkrade 24-12-1840. Shoeing-smith.
III-5. Jean Joseph Dormans, born Kerkrade 23-04-1818, died Kerkrade 22-12-1883, shoemaker. Married Kerkrade 07-04-1842 Maria Magdalena Hubertina Wierts, born Kerkrade 25-02-1816 as daughter of Pie Joseph Wierts and Maria Theresia Bahnen, landlady. From this marriage:
IV-1. Jan Joseph Dormans, born Kerkrade 02-01-1843, joiner. Married Kerkrade 21-04-1868 Maria Theresia Francisca Schleijpen, shopkeepster, born Kerkrade 11-05-1836 as daughter of Renier Schleijpen and Antonetta Lees meester.
IV-2. Mathijs Joseph Dormans, born Kerkrade 29-01-1846, road-maker, married Kerkrade 03- 02-1893 Maria Johanna Lubbers, born 13-04-1857 Richterich (D) as daughter of Gerard Lubbers and Maria Catharina Schiffeler. Two children:
V-1. Maria Catharina Dormans, born Kerkrade 08-06-1894.
V-2. Anna Maria Dormans, born Kerkrade 01-02-1898.
IV-3. Maria Catharina Hubertina Dormans, born Kerkrade 24-07-1848, died Kerkrade 11- 05- 1849.
IV-4. Anna Hubertina Dormans, born Kerkrade 10-04-1850.
IV-5. Arnold Joseph Dormans, born Kerkrade 09-02-1853.
IV-6. Maria Hubertina Dormans, born Kerkrade 23-02-1856, died Kerkrade
26-06-1876. Unmarried.
IV-7. Jan Hubert Dormans, born Kerkrade 10-08-1861, shoemaker.
III-6. Pierre Joseph Dormans, born Kerkrade 19-10-1819, tailor. Died Kerkrade 31-03-1852.
III-7. Johanna Josepha Dormans, born Kerkrade 17-08-1821.
III-8. Maria Sibilla Hubertina Dormans, born Kerkrade 24-09-1823, died Kerkrade 19-06-1878. Unmarried.
III-9. Arnold Joseph Dormans, born Kerkrade 11-10-1825, died Kerkrade 27-01-1874, joiner, 1.75 m high. Unmarried.
III-10. Hendrik Joseph Dormans, born Kerkrade 18-01-1828, died Kerkrade 27-11-1891. Unmarried. Shoemaker, 1.73 m high.
II-2. Maria Margaretha Dormans, geb.11-1-1784 Ubach, day-labourer, died Hückelhoven, St.Lambertus 1-1-1823. married 1-10-1808 Doveren, Hückelhoven, Guillaume Henri Pohlen from Hückelhoven, born Hückelhoven 22-4-1786, day-labourer, not able to write, (sun of Jean Pohlen, day-labourer and Margaretha Liesen from Hückelhoven). Married one day later in the church of St.Lambert in Hückelhoven.
III-1. Christianus Antonius Pohlen, born Doveren, Hückelhoven, 18-7-1809,
III-2. Helena Pohlen (Maria Magdalena), born Doveren, Hückelhoven, 18-7-1811, died Doveren 24-9-1811.
III-3. Madeleine (Magdalena) Pohlen, born Doveren, Hückelhoven 7-8-1813,
III-4. Maria Anna (Catharina) Pohlen, born Doveren Hückelhoven 28-1-1817, died Doveren 14-2- 1817.
III-5. Johann Gerard Pohlen, born Doveren Hückelhoven 15-11-1818.
III-6. Dead born girl, born Doveren Hückelhoven 16-9-1821.
III-7. Maria Catharina Pohlen, born Doveren Hückelhoven 26-12-1822.
Married for the second time Eijgelshoven 07-02-1785 Anna Helena Gau from Waubach (witnesses Jacobus Corvers and Maria Catharina Gau). Child:
II-3. Gerard Jean Dormans, born Ubach-Palenberg (D) 03-11-1787, servant.
The last pedigree concerns eight recent generations from Aachen from 1821 till the present time.
I. Peter Joseph Dormanns, married Aachen 3-11-1821 Anna Catharina Maria Simons. Six children:
II-1. Franz Joseph Dormanns, born Aachen 11-7-1822, married 25-4-1846 Anna Maria von Forst. (Forsch)
III-1. Gerard Dormans, born Aachen 16-2-1848.
III-2. Peter Joseph Dormans, Aachen 28-11-1849, married Aachen 21-9- 1871 Christina Lehrheuer.
IV-1. Franz Dormanns, born Aachen 18-11-1872.
IV-2. Hermann Dormanns, born Aachen 3-2-1874.
III-3. Johann Dormans, born Aachen 29-4-1852.
III-4. Wilhelm Dormans, born Aachen 9-2-1855.
III-5. Johann Dormans, born Aachen 29-6-1857.
III-6. Elisabeth Dormans, born Aachen 15-11-1859.
III-7. Maria Gertrud Dormans, born Aachen 31-8-1862.
III-8. Agnes Dormans, born Aachen 29-9-1865.
II-2. Johann Joseph Dormanns, born Aachen 28-11-1824. Married Aachen 21-9-1844 (Joh)anna Maria Krieger, born Aachen 27-4-1824.
III-1. Josephina Dormans, born Aachen 3-11-1845.
III-2. Barbara Dormans, born Aachen 9-12-1847.
III-3. Joseph Dormans, born Aachen 15-12-1849.
III-4. Anna Dormans, born Aachen 20-2-1852.
III-5. Leonard Dormans, born Aachen 21-4-1854.
III-6. Mathias Dormans, born Aachen 18-4-1856.
III-7. Anna Hubertina Dormans, born Aachen 28-11-1858.
III-8. Theresa Dormans, born Aachen 29-5-1861.
III-9. Josephina Dormans, born Aachen 30-3-1864.
III-10. Catharina Dormans, born Aachen 5-11-1866.
II-3. Wilhelm Dormanns, born Aachen 31-3-1827, married Aachen 14-4-1855
Helena Kaufmann, born Aachen 7-7-1829. Six children:
III-1. Xavier Dormanns, born Aachen 25-6-1855.
III-2. Franz Dormanns, born Aachen 6-12-1857.
III-3. Agnes Dormanns, born Aachen 28-1-1860.
III-4. Agnes Dormanns, born Aachen 9-9-1864.
III-5. Elisabeth Dormanns, born Aachen 25-3-1867.
III-6. Josephina Dormanns, born Aachen 19-6-1871.
II-4. Gertrudis Dormanns, born Aachen 5-3-1830.
II-5. Johann Adam Dormanns, born Aachen 5-8-1832, St. Jacob, Aachen, married 17-4-1858 in St. Jacob Aachen Maria Gertrud Soehnen, born 17-8-1836 St. Michael Aachen. Eleven children:
III-1. Franz Dormanns, born Aachen 5-1-1859.
III-2. Hubert Peter Dormanns, born Aachen 16-6-1860.
III-3. Josephina Dormanns, born Aachen 17-12-1861.
III-4. Joseph Dormanns, born Aachen 5-11-1863. married St.Jacob Aachen 2-12-1887 Elisabeth Clermont, born Aachen 24-6-1865. Kinderen:
IV-1. Arnold Josephus Johannes Dormanns, born Aachen 23-4-1882, afterwards legalized, died Aachen 2-1-1962. Married Vaals 22-10- 1903 Maria Louise Antonette van Mousch, born Wylre 27-12-1881, died 20-1-1947. Seven children:
V-1. Josef Dormanns, born Wilsberg 27-2-1904, died 21-11-1977. Married Sebylle (Billa) Derichs, died 1981. One child:
VI-1. Wienand Dormanns, born Heerlen 4-7-1924, died 17- 1-1985.
V-2. Franz Dormanns, born Wilsberg 2-4-1905. died Aachen 31- 12-1989. Married 14-5-1927 Maria Gertrude Lennartz, born St. Lambertus Kalterherberg 3-9-1906, died 22-2-1981.
VI-1. Alfred Dormanns, born Aachen 18-9-1927. Married Aachen 14-10-1954 Anna Geurten, born Aachen 14-3-1932.
VII-1. Doris Dormanns, born Aachen 9-8-1947. Married 30-4-1971 Detlev Krichels, born 4-5-1946.
VIII-1. Mark Krichels, born 20-10-1977.
VIII-2. Sascha Krichels, born Aachen 5-8-1972, died 16-10-1979.
VII-2. Martina Dormanns, born Aachen 3-8-1959. Married Michael Maus, born Aachen 22-6-1951.
VIII-1. Mirco Maus, born 17-4-1987.
VIII-2. Marvin Maus, born 20-11-1989.
VII-3. Marion Dormanns, born Aachen 6-11-1967. Married Aachen 1-3-1996 Ralph Guido Köhler, born Aachen 20-1-1968.
VIII-1. Jana Köhler, born 14-3-1997.
VIII-2. Niklas Köhler, born 4-1-2000.
VIII-3. Paul Köhler, born 14-3-2001.
VI-2. Marianne Dormanns, born 29-3-1929, died 20-9-2003. Married 17-4-1954 Werner Thiele, born 17-8-1931, died 12-10- 1991. Four children:
VII-1. Karin Thiele, born 4-5-1955.
VII-2. Monika Thiele, born 10-8-1958.
VII-3. Dirk Thiele, born 1-10-1965.
VII-4. Helmuth Thiele, born 21-1-1971.
VI-3. Waltraud Dormanns, born Aachen 3-8-1940. Married Karl Hass, born 17-1-1933, died 12-12-1984.
VII-1. Guido Hass, born 28-6-1964.
VII-2. Jurgen Hass, born 20-4-1966.
V-3. Maria Catharina “Nettchen” Dormanns, born Kerkrade 13-5
1906, died 25-7-1972. Married Wienand Baggen, born 24-5-
1893, died 9-1-1981.
V-4. Gertrud “Trautchen” Dormanns, born Kerkrade 5-7-1907,
died 15-11-1994. Married 14-4-1936 Heinz Böhling, died
Leningrad 1943. Child:
VI-1. Herbert Böhling, born Düren 11-2-1943.
V-5. Maria Dormanns, born Aachen 11-2-1913, died Antwerp.
11-5-2002. Married 6-10-1950 Peter Pütz, born 22-10-1901,
died 3-6-1977.
V-6. Elisabeth “Else” Dormanns. born Aachen 13-1-1915, died
Aachen 13-1-2002. Married 31-3-1956 Philipp Gatzen, born 25-9-
1903, died 9-9-1996.
V-7. Jakob Dormanns, born Aachen 4-2-1923. Married 16-11-1950
Hannelore Woicke, born 6-3-1928.
IV-2. Maria Gunia Dormanns, born Aachen. Three children:
V-1. Hubert Dormanns.
V-2. Peter Dormanns.
V-3. Lilly Dormanns.
IV-3. Agnes Dormanns, born Aachen, died Frankfurt. Married Max Heil.
IV-4. Jakob Dormanns, born Aachen, died Düsseldorf.
IV-5. Peter Dormanns, born Aachen, died Düsseldorf
III-5. Theresia Dormanns, born Aachen 1-11-1865.
III-6. Hubertina Dormanns, born Aachen 10-4-1867.
III-7. Heinrich Dormanns, born Aachen 9-3-1869.
III-8. Helena Dormanns, born Aachen 4-7-1871, twin.
III-9. Margaretha Dormanns, born Aachen 4-7-1871, twin.
III-10. Elisabeth Dormanns, born Aachen 8-9-1872.
III-11. Agnes Dormann, born Aachen 30-8-1874.
II-6. Heinrich Dormanns, born Aachen 2-8-1836.
In the last pedigree from Aachen, it appears that the family name was preponderantly written as Dormanns, although a few times the manner of writing of Dormans was handled.
The second pedigree, originally from Ubach, but mainly taking place in Kerkrade, concerns only the manner of writing Dormans. It is remarkable that in the birth act from Kerkrade of Maria Catharina Dormans in 1906, the father was mentioned as Joseph Johannes Arnold Dormans, while he signs this act as Dormanns. The pedigree from Geilenkirchen concerns only the manner of writing Dormans. Only a few times the names Durmans or Dorman were used.
Neither in the Netherlands nor in North Rhine Westfalia was data found before 1597, the year that my oldest known ancestor married in Heerlen, so I do not have clear evidences for a German descent.
The frequently occurring first Christian name Matthias in the beginning of the seventeenth century in the Limburgs family (ref.1) we did not see again in the French mediaeval family de Dormans (ref.6), but was very frequently present in the seventeenth and in the first half of the eighteenth century in the Dormans family in the region, Geilenkirchen. This could be a strong indication for a common origin before 1600.
It is still unclear if the Dutch family originates from the German family, or the other way round, or that both branches have common ancestors in the sixteenth century.
References.
1. J.A.M.A.Dormans, Het geslacht Dormans, 1994, Den Dolder.
2. J.A.M.A.Dormans, Het geslacht Dormans, Het Limburgs Tijdschrift voor Genealogie, 1990, 18-2, p.59-63.
3. J.A.M.A.Dormans, Het geslacht Dormans, Het Limburgs Tijdschrift voor Genealogie 1992, 20-2, p.41-51.
4. J.A.M.A.Dormans, Het geslacht Dormans, Het Limburgs Tijdschrift voor Genealogie 1994, 22-3, p.84-90.
5. J.A.M.A.Dormans, Heeft het Limburgse geslacht Dormans Franse voorouders? Het Limburgs Tijdschrift voor Genealogie, 2011, 39-4, 115-118.
6. www.verwandt.de.
With thanks to Manfred Hugot from Arnsberg, L.G.M.Paulis, and Ralph Köhler from Aachen for their ready help.