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Bownlee Family History

Bownlee Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Brownlee, Townley, Bowley, Bowler, Bowdle, Bowles, Bowlen, Rowlee

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Bownlee family from?

You can see how Bownlee families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bownlee family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Bownlee families were found in USA in 1880, and Canada in 1911. In 1851 there was 1 Bownlee family living in Lanarkshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Bownlee's in Scotland. Lanarkshire had the highest population of Bownlee families in 1851.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bownlee surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1851
  • 1871
  • 1881
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What Bownlee family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 139 census records available for the last name Bownlee. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bownlee census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bownlee

Passenger Lists

There are 6 immigration records available for the last name Bownlee. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Bownlee immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7 military records available for the last name Bownlee. For the veterans among your Bownlee ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bownlee military records

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What is the average Bownlee lifespan?

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bownlee ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bownlee

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