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Downley Family History

Downley 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: Downey, Townley, Donley, Dowley, Cowley, Dolney, Howley, Dorney

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Downley family from?

You can see how Downley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Downley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Downley families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1891 there were 2 Downley families living in Lancashire. This was about 67% of all the recorded Downley's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Downley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Downley 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 Downley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Downley. 72% of Downley men worked as a Laborer.

View Census Data for Downley | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    72%
  • Auditor
    29%

What Downley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 638 census records available for the last name Downley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Downley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Downley

Passenger Lists

There are 250 immigration records available for the last name Downley. 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 Downley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 25 military records available for the last name Downley. For the veterans among your Downley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Downley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Downley family history

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What is the average Downley lifespan?

Between 1972 and 1990, in the United States, Downley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Downley in 1972 was 39, and 87 in 1990.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Downley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Downley 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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