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Dowdell Family History

Dowdell Name Meaning

Irish and English: variant of Dowdall.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Dowdall, Dowdey, Dorrell, Rowell, Vowell, Nowell, Jowell, Dowdle

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 Dowdell family from?

You can see how Dowdell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dowdell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dowdell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 4 Dowdell families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 50% of all the recorded Dowdell's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Dowdell families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dowdell 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 Dowdell ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Laborer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Dowdell. 31% of Dowdell men worked as a Laborer and 12% of Dowdell women worked as a Laborer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dowdell were Salesman and Laundress. .

View Census Data for Dowdell | 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
    31%
  • Farmer
    13%
  • Clerk
    6%
  • Salesman
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    12%
  • Maid
    12%
  • Cook
    10%
  • Laundress
    7%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Dowdell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 24,000 census records available for the last name Dowdell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dowdell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Dowdell

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Dowdell. 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 Dowdell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Dowdell. For the veterans among your Dowdell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dowdell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dowdell family history

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What is the average Dowdell lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Dowdell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Dowdell in 1941 was 30, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dowdell

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