This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Downham family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Downham Family History

Downham Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from any of various places called Downham in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Lancashire, and perhaps also from Downham, Northumberland, and Downholme, North Yorkshire, though no evidence has been found for these.

The names from Lancashire and Northumberland arise from Old English dūn, dative plural dūnum ‘(at) the hills’ while the others come from Old English dūn ‘hill’ + hām ‘homestead’.

Altered form of English Dunham.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Downham family from?

You can see how Downham families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Downham family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Downham families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 363 Downham families living in Lancashire. This was about 33% of all the recorded Downham's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Downham families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Downham surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Downham 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 Downham. 20% of Downham men worked as a General Labourer and 72% of Downham women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Downham were Dairy Farmer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Downham | 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
    20%
  • Incapacitated
    7%
  • Milk Roundsman
    5%
  • Dairy Farmer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Downham family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 18,000 census records available for the last name Downham. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Downham census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Downham

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Downham. 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 Downham immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Downham. For the veterans among your Downham ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Downham military records

You've only scratched the surface of Downham family history

Discover More

What is the average Downham lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2003, in the United States, Downham life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1968, and highest in 1963. The average life expectancy for Downham in 1963 was 86, and 79 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Downham

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

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial