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Downay Family History

Downay 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: Downey, Donnay, Donat, Dolney, Dorney, Dunay, Downham, Downer, Dona

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Downay family from?

You can see how Downay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Downay family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Downay families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there was 1 Downay family living in Northumberland. This was 100% of all the recorded Downay's in United Kingdom. Northumberland had the highest population of Downay families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Downay surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What Downay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 225 census records available for the last name Downay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Downay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Downay

Passenger Lists

There are 113 immigration records available for the last name Downay. 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 Downay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 18 military records available for the last name Downay. For the veterans among your Downay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Downay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Downay family history

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What is the average Downay lifespan?

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Downay 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 Downay

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