This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Dowson family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Dowson Family History

Dowson Surname Meaning

English (Durham and North Yorkshire): patronymic from the Middle English personal name Dow, a side form of Daw and a pet form of Ralph. Dow can be pronounced to rhyme with either hoe or how.

The Durham surname alternates with Dawson from the 16th century onward.

Alternatively, a patronymic from the Middle English personal name Douce (see Dowse).

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Dowson family from?

You can see how Dowson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dowson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dowson families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 773 Dowson families living in Yorkshire. This was about 34% of all the recorded Dowson's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Dowson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dowson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Dowson ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Dowson. 11% of Dowson men worked as a General Labourer and 71% of Dowson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dowson were Cowman and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Dowson | 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

  • General Labourer
    11%
  • Farmer
    10%
  • Dairy Farmer
    5%
  • Cowman
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Dowson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 42,000 census records available for the last name Dowson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dowson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dowson

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Dowson. 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 Dowson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Dowson. For the veterans among your Dowson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dowson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dowson family history

Discover More

What is the average Dowson lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Dowson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1988, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Dowson in 1962 was 78, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dowson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dowson 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Dowson family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial