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

Dowdy, 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 Dowdy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dowdy in America

Dowdy is the 2678th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dowdy surname appeared 13,468 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Dowdy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dowdy 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 Dowdy

The surname Dowdy is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest roots dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be a variant of the Old English word "dudd," which means a rag or tattered garment. This suggests that the name may have been initially assigned as a nickname to someone who wore ragged or shabby clothing.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Dowdy, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. The name also appeared in various medieval records, including the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1450, where a William Dowdy was mentioned.

The Dowdy surname has several spelling variations throughout history, such as Dowdie, Doudy, and Doudey. Some of these variations may have originated from different regions or dialects within England.

In the 16th century, the surname Dowdy appeared in the Musters of Norfolk, where a Robert Dowdy was listed in 1586. Around the same time, a John Dowdy was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1598.

One notable individual with the surname Dowdy was Sir John Dowdy (1543-1628), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Southwark in 1593 and 1597. He was also appointed as a Serjeant-at-Law in 1603.

Another historical figure was William Dowdy (1617-1684), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Buckworth in Huntingdonshire. He published several works, including a treatise on the Sabbath and a commentary on the Book of Revelation.

In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the name was John Dowdy (1730-1809), an English sailor and explorer who accompanied Captain James Cook on his second and third voyages to the Pacific Ocean. He served as a master's mate and helped navigate the ships during their expeditions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dowdy surname in America was Thomas Dowdy, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. He was among the early settlers in the colony and may have been the progenitor of many Dowdy families in the United States.

Another significant figure was Henry Dowdy (1794-1858), an American lawyer and politician from North Carolina. He served as a member of the North Carolina House of Commons and was a prominent advocate for internal improvements and education in the state.

While the Dowdy surname may have humble beginnings, it has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields throughout history, from law and politics to exploration and literature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dowdy

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

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 Dowdy 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 Dowdy 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 Dowdy was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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