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Dowans Family History

Dowans 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: Gowans, Cowans, Downs, Doman, Dowland, Doane, Gowan, Donais, Dewan

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Dowans family from?

You can see how Dowans families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dowans family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dowans families were found in USA in 1920. In 1841 there was 1 Dowans family living in East Lothian. This was 100% of all the recorded Dowans's in Scotland. East Lothian had the highest population of Dowans families in 1841.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dowans surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1841
  • 1851
  • 1861
  • 1871
  • 1881
  • 1891
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What Dowans family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 115 census records available for the last name Dowans. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dowans census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dowans

Passenger Lists

There are 6 immigration records available for the last name Dowans. 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 Dowans immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 8 military records available for the last name Dowans. For the veterans among your Dowans ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dowans military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dowans family history

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What is the average Dowans lifespan?

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dowans 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 Dowans

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