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

Downen, 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 Downen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Downen in America

Downen is the 22392nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Downen surname appeared 1,150 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 Downen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Downen 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 Downen

The surname Downen originated in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "dun," meaning a hill or a down. This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived near or on a hill or downland area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1176, where it is spelled as "de Dun." This indicates that the name was originally a locational surname, referring to someone from a place called Dun.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, the name appears as "Downe," a spelling variation that became more common over time. This record provides evidence of the name's presence in various parts of England during the 13th century.

The Downen surname is also mentioned in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This reference suggests that the name had already been established in some regions of the country by the late 11th century.

Notable individuals with the surname Downen include John Downen (1572-1634), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Bishop of Derry in Ireland. Another notable figure was William Downen (1626-1688), a renowned English botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plants.

In the 16th century, the surname was also found in Scotland, where it was recorded as "Downane" in the Exchequer Rolls of 1538. This indicates that the name had spread to other parts of the British Isles by that time.

Towards the end of the 17th century, the Downen surname appeared in various parish records across England, such as those in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Gloucestershire. This suggests that the name had become more widely distributed throughout the country.

Other notable individuals with the Downen surname include Robert Downen (1763-1823), an English inventor and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of steam engines, and Mary Downen (1845-1912), a pioneering American educator and advocate for women's rights.

Throughout its history, the Downen surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Downane, Downing, Downeing, and Downham, among others. These variations often reflect regional dialects and linguistic changes over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Downen

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

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

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

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