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Dowen Family History

Dowen Surname Meaning

English (Staffordshire): variant of Down.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Dowen family from?

You can see how Dowen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dowen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dowen families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 108 Dowen families living in Staffordshire. This was about 38% of all the recorded Dowen's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire had the highest population of Dowen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dowen 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 Dowen ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Dowen. 46% of Dowen men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Dowen women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dowen were Bricklayer and Unpaid Household Duties.

View Census Data for Dowen | 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

  • General Labourer
    46%
  • Old Age Pensioner
    19%
  • Universal Miller motor Car
    19%
  • Bricklayer
    19%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Domestic Duties
    6%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dut
    4%
  • Unpaid Household Duties
    4%

What Dowen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Dowen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dowen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dowen

Passenger Lists

There are 690 immigration records available for the last name Dowen. 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 Dowen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 723 military records available for the last name Dowen. For the veterans among your Dowen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dowen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dowen family history

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What is the average Dowen lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Dowen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1968, and highest in 1985. The average life expectancy for Dowen in 1962 was 77, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dowen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dowen 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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