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Downton Family History

Downton Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Downton in Wiltshire recorded in 672 as Duntun which has the same etymology as Dunton.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Downton family from?

You can see how Downton families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Downton family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Downton families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 241 Downton families living in Dorset. This was about 34% of all the recorded Downton's in United Kingdom. Dorset had the highest population of Downton families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Downton 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 did your Downton ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farm Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Downton. 13% of Downton men worked as a Farm Labourer and 75% of Downton women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Downton were General Labourer and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Downton | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Farm Labourer
    13%
  • Cowman
    13%
  • Farm Carter
    11%
  • General Labourer
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Housekeeper
    2%
  • Domestic Servant
    2%

What Downton family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 15,000 census records available for the last name Downton. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Downton census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Downton

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Downton. 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 Downton immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Downton. For the veterans among your Downton ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Downton military records

You've only scratched the surface of Downton family history

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What is the average Downton lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Downton life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1966, and highest in 1968. The average life expectancy for Downton in 1963 was 88, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Downton

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Downton 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.

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