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 839
Agricultural Labourer 84
General Servant 40
Dress Maker 38
Carpenter 35
Domestic Servant 35
General Labourer 31
Labourer 31
Coal Miner 29
Laundress 24
Farm Labourer 23
Annuitant 22
General Servant Domestic 19
House Keeper 19
Blacksmith 18
Farmers Son 16
Farm Servant Indoor 14
Stone Mason 14
Cook Domestic Servant 12
Shepherd 12
Mason 11
Tailor 10
No Occupation 9
Servant 9
Farm Servant 9

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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