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Downie Family History

Downie Surname Meaning

Scottish: variant of Downey Irish: Scottish form of Irish Downey 1 or

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 Downie family from?

You can see how Downie families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Downie family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Downie families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 143 Downie families living in Lancashire. This was about 26% of all the recorded Downie's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Downie families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Downie 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 Downie ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Window Cleaner and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Downie. 12% of Downie men worked as a Window Cleaner and 68% of Downie women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Downie were Medical Practitioner and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Downie | 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

  • Window Cleaner
    12%
  • General Labourer Heavy Worker
    12%
  • General Labourer
    12%
  • Medical Practitioner
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

What Downie family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 63,000 census records available for the last name Downie. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Downie census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Downie

Passenger Lists

There are 14,000 immigration records available for the last name Downie. 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 Downie immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Downie. For the veterans among your Downie ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Downie military records

You've only scratched the surface of Downie family history

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What is the average Downie lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Downie life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 1966. The average life expectancy for Downie in 1945 was 42, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Downie

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Downie 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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