Downey Family History

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Downey Name Meaning

Irish: reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Dúnadhaigh ‘descendant of Dúnadhach’, a personal name meaning ‘fortress-holder’ (from dún ‘fortress’, ‘fortified hill’). Irish: reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Maol Dhomhnaigh, or of Mac Giolla Dhomnaigh (see Maloney). Scottish: habitational name from the Scottish barony of Downie or Duny in the parish of Monikie in Angus (on Tayside), named from Gaelic dùn ‘hill’ + the locative suffix -ach.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Dorney, Torney, Downen, Downes, Looney, Disney, Dolney, Downer

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Downey Family Origin

Where is the Downey family from?

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You can see how Downey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Downey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Downey families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 456 Downey families living in London. This was about 21% of all the recorded Downey's in the UK. London had the highest population of Downey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Downey surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Downey

Downey Family Occupations

What did your Downey ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the UK named Downey. 15% of Downey men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Downey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Downey were Incapacitated and Domestic Duties

View Census data for Downey | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations in 1939

  • General Labourer
    15%
  • Builders Labourer
    6%
  • Carpenter
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    5%

Top Female Occupations in 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    2%

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Downey Historical Records

What Downey family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 205,000 census records available for the last name Downey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Downey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Downey

Passenger List

There are 28,000 immigration records available for the last name Downey. 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 Downey immigration records

Draft Card

There are 39,000 military records available for the last name Downey. For the veterans among your Downey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Downey military records

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Downey Life Expectancy

What is the average Downey lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Downey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Downey in 1940 was 41, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Downey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Downey 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.

Famous Downey Family Ancestors

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