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Downs Family History

Downs Surname Meaning

English and Irish: variant of Downes.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Downs family from?

You can see how Downs families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Downs family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Downs families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 681 Downs families living in London. This was about 14% of all the recorded Downs's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Downs families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Downs 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 Downs 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 Downs. 11% of Downs men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Downs women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Downs were Incapacitated and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Downs | 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
    11%
  • Builders Labourer
    6%
  • Bricklayer
    6%
  • Incapacitated
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Downs family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 242,000 census records available for the last name Downs. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Downs census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Downs

Passenger Lists

There are 19,000 immigration records available for the last name Downs. 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 Downs immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 40,000 military records available for the last name Downs. For the veterans among your Downs ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Downs military records

You've only scratched the surface of Downs family history

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What is the average Downs lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Downs life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Downs in 1942 was 47, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Downs

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Downs 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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