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Dowles Family History

Dowles Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Doles, Mowles, Dowler, Powles, Downes, Rowles, Bowles, Dowlen, Cowles

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Dowles family from?

You can see how Dowles families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dowles family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dowles families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there was 1 Dowles family living in Tennessee. This was 100% of all the recorded Dowles's in USA. Tennessee had the highest population of Dowles families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dowles surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Dowles ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Dowles. 25% of Dowles men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Dowles women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dowles were Mechanic and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Dowles | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    25%
  • Truck Driver
    13%
  • Carpenter
    13%
  • Mechanic
    13%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    50%
  • Housekeeper
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Dowles family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Dowles. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dowles census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Dowles

Passenger Lists

There are 250 immigration records available for the last name Dowles. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Dowles immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 165 military records available for the last name Dowles. For the veterans among your Dowles ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dowles military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dowles family history

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What is the average Dowles lifespan?

Between 1977 and 2003, in the United States, Dowles life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1977, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Dowles in 1977 was 32, and 61 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dowles

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