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Dowdell Family History

Dowdell Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from a lost Ovedale or Uvedale which gave rise to the 14th-century surname de Uvedale alias de Ovedale connected with the manor of D'Ovesdale in Litlington Cambridgeshire first recorded as ‘manor of Overdale otherwise Dowdale’ in 1408.

The name may also occasionally arise from Dovedale in Derbyshire ‘valley of the river Dove’ from the river name + Old Norse dalr ‘valley’.

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


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Where is the Dowdell family from?

You can see how Dowdell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dowdell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dowdell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 104 Dowdell families living in London. This was about 29% of all the recorded Dowdell's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Dowdell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dowdell 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 Dowdell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Lorry Driver and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Dowdell. 27% of Dowdell men worked as a Lorry Driver and 80% of Dowdell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dowdell were Farm Carter and House Duties.

View Census Data for Dowdell | 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

  • Lorry Driver
    27%
  • Taxi Driver
    20%
  • General Labourer
    20%
  • Farm Carter
    20%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • House Duties
    3%

What Dowdell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 24,000 census records available for the last name Dowdell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dowdell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dowdell

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Dowdell. 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 Dowdell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Dowdell. For the veterans among your Dowdell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dowdell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dowdell family history

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What is the average Dowdell lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Dowdell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Dowdell in 1941 was 30, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dowdell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dowdell 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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