Documentary evidence refers to two members of that family, Martino and Genuardo, in 1110; they are called filii Auriae (the sons or children of Oria).

Simon Doria lived in the late 12th century and was an admiral of the Genoese in the crusaders' assault against Saint Jean d'Acre.

The brothers Oberto Doria and Lamba Doria were naval commanders and politicians: Oberto was Captain of the People in Genoa and led its naval forces in the victory of La Meloria against Pisa in 1284 while Lamba won a major battle against Venetian Andrea Dandolo at Curzola in 1298.

Heavy rain had made their bowstrings wet and useless (unlike those of the English longbows, they could not easily be removed) so Ottone ordered a retreat.

He was perpetual censor of Genoa in 1528 and admiral to the emperor Charles V. He was created Prince of Melfi (1531) and marquis of Tursi (in the kingdom of Naples) in 1555.

During the attempts by the Mongol Ilkhanate ruler Abaqa to form a Franco-Mongol alliance, his strategy included a strengthening of ties with the Genoese.

The genoese Lodisio Doria, from the Dolceacqua lineage, was made knight of Christ's Order and settled in the island of Madeira.

The name Doria was used in Cornelia Funke's Inkheart series (specifically, the book Inkdeath) for a semi-main character who eventually fell in love with the teenage heroine.