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Dowdley Family History

Dowdley 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: Dowdle, Dowdey, Dowley, Cowley, Howley, Downey, Cowdrey, Dudley

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Dowdley family from?

You can see how Dowdley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dowdley family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. The most Dowdley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 16 Dowdley families living in Alabama. This was 100% of all the recorded Dowdley's in USA. Alabama had the highest population of Dowdley families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dowdley 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 Dowdley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 100 census records available for the last name Dowdley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dowdley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dowdley

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Dowdley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dowdley family history

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What is the average Dowdley lifespan?

Between 1973 and 2000, in the United States, Dowdley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1981, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Dowdley in 1973 was 69, and 78 in 2000.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dowdley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dowdley 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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