Find out how popular the last name Ashdown is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ashdown.

Ashdown, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ashdown surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ashdown in America

Ashdown is the 28909th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ashdown surname appeared 822 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ashdown.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ashdown to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ashdown

The surname Ashdown is of English origin, derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "aesc" meaning ash tree, and "dun" meaning hill or down. It is a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near an ash-covered hill or down.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Aescedune" in Hampshire. This suggests that the name originated from a specific place in that county.

During the medieval period, the name was also recorded in various forms such as Asshedoun, Asshedoune, and Asshdon. These variations reflect the spelling changes that occurred over time.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir William Ashdown (c. 1360-1420), a medieval English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War. He was knighted for his valor in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

In the 16th century, the name was associated with the village of Ashdown in East Sussex, which was recorded as "Assheden" in 1586. This place name likely contributed to the widespread use of the surname in that area.

Another prominent figure was William Ashdown (1697-1768), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works and served as the rector of St. Botolph's Church in London.

During the 18th century, the Ashdown family established itself in the county of Kent, where they owned large estates. One member, Sir Henry Ashdown (1738-1812), was a notable landowner and served as High Sheriff of Kent in 1780.

In the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with Sir George Ashdown (1822-1895), a British civil servant who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal and was knighted for his services to the British Empire.

Another notable bearer was Thomas Ashdown (1859-1933), a British artist and illustrator who was renowned for his detailed paintings of landscapes and rural scenes.

Throughout its history, the surname Ashdown has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, clergy, civil servants, and artists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this locational surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ashdown

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ashdown.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ashdown was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ashdown has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ashdown was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ashdown, please contact us.

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