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Downward Family History

Downward Surname Meaning

Probably from Downwood (Herefs) and perhaps also Dunwood (Staffs) with -wood re-etymologized as -ward and occasionally reduced to -ard.

See Downard.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Downward family from?

You can see how Downward families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Downward family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Downward families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 56 Downward families living in Lancashire. This was about 26% of all the recorded Downward's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Downward families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Downward 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 Downward ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Provender Merchant Heavy and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Downward. 25% of Downward men worked as a Provender Merchant Heavy and 77% of Downward women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Downward were General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Downward | 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

  • Provender Merchant Heavy
    25%
  • Builders Labourer
    25%
  • Gardener
    25%
  • General Labourer
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Shop Assistant
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%

What Downward family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Downward. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Downward census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Downward

Passenger Lists

There are 707 immigration records available for the last name Downward. 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 Downward immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 362 military records available for the last name Downward. For the veterans among your Downward ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Downward military records

You've only scratched the surface of Downward family history

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What is the average Downward lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Downward life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2002, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Downward in 1957 was 58, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Downward

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Downward 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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