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Bownsend Family History

Bownsend 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: Townsend, Townshend, Bowden, Bowser, Bowen, Bossen, Bonser, Bensen

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Bownsend family from?

You can see how Bownsend families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bownsend family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1911 and 1920. The most Bownsend families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1911 there were 4 Bownsend families living in Saskatchewan. This was 100% of all the recorded Bownsend's in Canada. Saskatchewan had the highest population of Bownsend families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bownsend 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 Bownsend family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 22 census records available for the last name Bownsend. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bownsend census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bownsend

Passenger Lists

There are 4 immigration records available for the last name Bownsend. 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 Bownsend immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Bownsend military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bownsend family history

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What is the average Bownsend lifespan?

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bownsend 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 Bownsend

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