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Dowdes Family History

Dowdes 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, Downes, Dowdey, Dowds, Bowden, Cowden, Rodes, Howden, Downey

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Dowdes family from?

You can see how Dowdes families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dowdes family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1911. The most Dowdes families were found in USA in 1880. In 1861 there was 1 Dowdes family living in Renfrewshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Dowdes's in Scotland. Renfrewshire had the highest population of Dowdes families in 1861.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dowdes surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1861
  • 1871
  • 1891
  • 1901
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What Dowdes family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 72 census records available for the last name Dowdes. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dowdes census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dowdes

Passenger Lists

There are 12 immigration records available for the last name Dowdes. 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 Dowdes immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 10 military records available for the last name Dowdes. For the veterans among your Dowdes ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dowdes military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dowdes family history

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What is the average Dowdes lifespan?

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dowdes 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 Dowdes

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