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

Downing, 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 Downing surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Downing in America

Downing is the 1225th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Downing surname appeared 28,880 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 10 people would have the surname Downing.

We can also compare 2010 data for Downing 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 Downing

The surname Downing has its origins in England, where it emerged during the Middle Ages. Derived from the Old English words "dun" meaning hill and "ing" indicating a place, the name initially referred to someone who lived near or on a hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, compiled by order of William the Conqueror. This historical document mentions individuals with the surname Downing, indicating their presence in various parts of England at that time.

During the 13th century, the surname Downing began appearing in various records and manuscripts, often associated with place names such as Downingbury and Downington. These locations were likely situated on or near hills, reflecting the name's original meaning.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Downing throughout history is Sir George Downing (1624-1684), a renowned English soldier, diplomat, and the founder of Downing College at the University of Cambridge. Another prominent figure was Calybute Downing (1606-1644), an English clergyman and one of the founders of Harvard College in Massachusetts.

Andrew Downing (1815-1852), an American landscape gardener and horticulturist, played a significant role in shaping the American landscape design of the 19th century. His influential work, "A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening," remains a classic in the field.

In the realm of literature, Andrew Jackson Downing (1815-1867) was an American writer and editor known for his works on architecture and landscape gardening. His writings significantly influenced the development of American architecture and urban planning.

Sir George Downing (1685-1749), an English baronet and politician, served as a Member of Parliament for Dunwich and Callington. His contributions to public service and his involvement in local politics were notable during his lifetime.

These are just a few examples of the numerous individuals throughout history who bore the surname Downing, each leaving their mark on various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of the name's legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Downing

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

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

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

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