History of your Surname
Get access to Dowden family records.Start a free trial

Dowden Family History

Dowden Name Meaning

English: variant of Dowding itself a variant of Dodding.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Bowden, Cowden, Howden, Downen, Rowden, Dower, Dryden, Olden, Ogden

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Dowden family from?

You can see how Dowden families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dowden family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dowden families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 14 Dowden families living in Indiana. This was about 29% of all the recorded Dowden's in USA. Indiana had the highest population of Dowden families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dowden surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Dowden ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Dowden. 20% of Dowden men worked as a Laborer and 19% of Dowden women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dowden were Truck Driver and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Dowden | 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
    20%
  • Farmer
    20%
  • Clerk
    6%
  • Truck Driver
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    19%
  • Clerk
    12%
  • Stenographer
    12%
  • Housewife
    9%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Dowden family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 31,000 census records available for the last name Dowden. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dowden census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Dowden

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Dowden. For the veterans among your Dowden ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dowden military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dowden family history

Discover More

What is the average Dowden lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Dowden life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1988. The average life expectancy for Dowden in 1944 was 36, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dowden

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Dowden family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Dowden last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial