Downs Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Downs Name Meaning: The name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a patronymic variant of 'Dunn'/ 'Donn meaning 'dark'. Dunn 'dark-colored'.

May have been a nickname for someone with dark coloured hair or a swarthy complexion.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Downs Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Downs family

Profession Census Frequency
School 499
Farm Labourer 40
Labourer 36
Farmer 36
General Servant (domestic) 33
Coal Miner Hewer 33
Dressmaker 28
At Home 27
General Labourer 25
Bricklayer 22
At School 20
None 20
Private Means 20
Domestic Servant 19
Housekeeper 19
Cotton Weaver 18
Butcher 17
Clerk 16
Carter 16
Dress Maker 15
Laundress 15
Shop Assistant 14
House Keeper 14
House Painter 13
Bricklayers Labourer 12

Downs Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Downs 100% 31,148
2 Downes 83% 26,648
3 Edwins 50% 576
4 Dawns 80% 516
5 Dawnes 67% 365
6 Dowens 83% 200
7 Douns 80% 155
8 Dounes 67% 144

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

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