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Dowdan Family History

Dowdan 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: Dowden, Dowda, Bowden, Bogdan, Bowman, Cowden, Jordan, Dowdall

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Dowdan family from?

You can see how Dowdan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dowdan family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1840 and 1920. The most Dowdan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2 Dowdan families living in Lancashire. This was 100% of all the recorded Dowdan's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Dowdan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dowdan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What Dowdan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 109 census records available for the last name Dowdan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dowdan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dowdan

Passenger Lists

There are 42 immigration records available for the last name Dowdan. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 6 military records available for the last name Dowdan. For the veterans among your Dowdan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Dowdan lifespan?

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dowdan 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 Dowdan family tree

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