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

Downey, 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 Downey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Downey in America

Downey is the 1320th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Downey surname appeared 26,627 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Downey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Downey 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 Downey

The surname Downey is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "Dúnaidhe," which means "descendant of the fortified place." It was originally used as a descriptive name for someone who lived near or in a fortified town or place.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 12th century in County Down, Ireland. The name is believed to have originated in the area around Downpatrick, the county town of County Down. Some of the earliest recorded spellings of the name include Dounay, Downay, and Downey.

In the Annals of Ulster, a medieval chronicle of Irish history, there are references to individuals with the surname Downey as early as the 14th century. One notable mention is Aodh Ó Dúnaidhe, who was described as a "learned poet and historian" in the year 1347.

The Downey surname is also linked to several place names in Ireland, such as Downey's Rock in County Down and Downey's Bridge in County Sligo. These place names likely derived from individuals or families with the Downey surname who lived or owned land in those areas.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Downey:

1. John Goulding Downey (1827-1894), an Irish-American politician and lawyer who served as the 10th Governor of California from 1860 to 1862.
2. Anne Downey (1590-1672), an Irish noblewoman and landowner who played a significant role in the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s.
3. Thomas Downey (1772-1846), an Irish-American soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.
4. Edmund Downey (1856-1937), an Irish-American prelate who served as the Bishop of Superior, Wisconsin, from 1909 to 1937.
5. Robert Downey Jr. (born 1965), an American actor and producer, known for his roles in films such as Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes, and Chaplin, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.

The Downey surname has a rich history rooted in Ireland, with its origins dating back to the 12th century. Over the centuries, it has been associated with various historical figures, place names, and events, reflecting the diverse experiences and contributions of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Downey

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

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

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

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