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 733
Agricultural Labourer 74
General Labourer 73
Coal Miner 63
Farmer 60
Domestic Servant 56
Living On Own Means 43
Dress Maker 42
General Servant 37
Carpenter 34
General Servant Domestic 33
Labourer 31
Farm Labourer 30
Blacksmith 29
Farm Servant 28
Dressmaker 25
Laundress 24
Living On Her Own Means 24
House Keeper 19
Gardener 19
General Domestic Servant 18
Mason 17
Butcher 17
Cotton Weaver 17
Cook Domestic Servant 16

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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