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
School 522
Farm Labourer 70
Farmer 55
Private Means 45
General Servant (domestic) 44
Carpenter 29
General Labourer 26
Dressmaker 25
Labourer 24
Coal Miner Hewer 24
Housemaid (domestic) 18
At Home 16
Domestic Servant 15
None 15
Housekeeper 15
At School 14
Butcher 14
Shop Assistant 14
Farmers Son Working On Farm 14
Assistant 13
Assisting In The Business 13
Laundress 13
Bricklayer 12
Charwoman 12
House Keeper 12

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

Search for the Down family