Down Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Down Name Meaning: May have been taken from the Anglo-Saxon 'dun' meaning down or 'low hill'. May have also originated from the forename 'Dunn'/ 'Donn meaning 'dark'.

Thought to have been a topographical name given to someone who lived by a small hill from the Anglo-Saxon word 'dun'. May have also been a nickname for someone with dark coloured hair.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Down Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Down family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 646
Agricultural Labourer 93
Labourer 72
Domestic Servant 51
Dress Maker 40
Carpenter 35
General Servant 31
Servant 30
Farm Servant 23
Blacksmith 22
Ag Labourer 20
Farmer 19
Wife Of Above 17
House Keeper 16
Farm Labourer 16
Farmers Son 16
Gardener 16
Farm Servant Indoor 15
Tailor 15
Laundress 13
Annuitant 12
Farmers Wife 12
Nurse 12
Agricultural Labourer's Wife 11
Wife 11

Down Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Down 100% 30,772
2 Edwin 40% 4,511
3 Downie 67% 3,265
4 Downe 80% 2,678
5 Dawn 75% 2,247
6 Dowen 80% 1,001
7 Dwine 40% 756
8 Dewin 60% 739
9 Dewen 60% 473
10 Dwan 50% 234
11 Dewan 60% 172
12 Dowan 80% 172
13 Dwen 50% 172
14 Dwane 40% 152
15 Dawen 60% 142
16 Adwin 40% 116
17 Dowin 80% 115
18 Dowine 67% 114

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The surname Down is the most popular version of all its varients

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