NameCensus.

UK surname

Dowdell

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Dubhdálaigh," meaning "descendant of the dark and blind one."

In the 1881 census there were 241 people recorded with the Dowdell surname, ranking it #11,374 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 421, ranked #11,388, down from #11,374 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Langford, Steeple, Tormoham with Torquay and Wily with Deptford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale, Bromley and Guildford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dowdell is 455 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.7%.

1881 census count

241

Ranked #11,374

Modern count

421

2016, ranked #11,388

Peak year

2002

455 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dowdell had 241 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,374 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 421 in 2016, ranked #11,388.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 388 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Dowdell surname distribution map

The map shows where the Dowdell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Dowdell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dowdell over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 138 #13,745
1861 historical 169 #13,823
1881 historical 241 #11,374
1891 historical 292 #11,351
1901 historical 361 #10,196
1911 historical 388 #9,497
1997 modern 441 #10,231
1998 modern 453 #10,358
1999 modern 447 #10,497
2000 modern 454 #10,360
2001 modern 441 #10,412
2002 modern 455 #10,349
2003 modern 425 #10,765
2004 modern 426 #10,768
2005 modern 419 #10,802
2006 modern 421 #10,798
2007 modern 409 #11,182
2008 modern 401 #11,441
2009 modern 418 #11,309
2010 modern 414 #11,673
2011 modern 420 #11,402
2012 modern 421 #11,245
2013 modern 431 #11,231
2014 modern 429 #11,347
2015 modern 424 #11,364
2016 modern 421 #11,388

Geography

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Where Dowdells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Langford, Steeple, Tormoham with Torquay, Wily with Deptford and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale, Bromley, Guildford, Wiltshire and Kensington and Chelsea. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Langford, Steeple Wiltshire
2 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 Wily with Deptford Wiltshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 008 Swale
2 Bromley 030 Bromley
3 Guildford 004 Guildford
4 Wiltshire 007 Wiltshire
5 Kensington and Chelsea 017 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dowdell

These lists show first names that appear often with the Dowdell surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dowdell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dowdell, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Dowdell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dowdell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dowdell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dowdell is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dowdell falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dowdell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Dowdell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dowdell

The surname DOWDELL is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place called Dowdall or Dowdale, likely referring to a valley or dell where doves resided. The name may also be connected to the Old English words "duf" meaning dove and "dael" meaning valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1190, where a person named Robert de Doudal is mentioned. In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records with spellings such as Doudal, Doudale, and Dowdall.

The DOWDELL surname is associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir John Dowdall (c. 1470-1538), an English lawyer and judge who served as a Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Henry VIII.

Another prominent figure was William Dowdell (1619-1679), an English clergyman who became the Archdeacon of Dublin and was known for his religious writings and sermons.

In the 18th century, John Dowdell (c. 1730-1798) was a notable Irish politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Portarlington.

Moving to the 19th century, Sarah Dowdell (1829-1909) was a British author and educator who wrote several books on history and literature, including a biography of the poet John Keats.

More recently, Richard Dowdell (1920-2010) was an American baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Athletics in the 1940s.

While the DOWDELL surname is not among the most common in England or Ireland, it has a rich history dating back to the medieval period and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including lawyers, clergymen, politicians, authors, and athletes.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dowdell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dowdell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Wiltshire leads with 67 Dowdells recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.23x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 67 32.23x
Middlesex 39 1.66x
Hampshire 38 7.89x
Devon 23 4.70x
Lancashire 17 0.61x
Surrey 13 1.13x
Durham 8 1.14x
Staffordshire 7 0.88x
Cheshire 5 0.96x
Sussex 4 1.01x
Derbyshire 3 0.82x
Gloucestershire 3 0.65x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.95x
Essex 2 0.43x
Glamorgan 2 0.49x
Kent 2 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.67x
Cornwall 1 0.38x
Dorset 1 0.65x
Monmouthshire 1 0.59x
Somerset 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 27 Dowdells recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.59x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 27 28.59x
Wylye 13 3250.00x
Finchley 8 88.79x
Fisherton Anger 8 207.79x
Broughton In Salford 7 27.44x
Little Langford 7 10000.00x
Liverpool 7 4.13x
North Savernake 7 7777.78x
Steeple Langford 7 1666.67x
East Stonehouse 6 62.24x
Semley 6 1090.91x
Sunderland Bridge 6 540.54x
Tormoham 6 28.99x
Clerkenwell London 5 9.01x
Corsham 5 165.02x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 10.57x
Stoke Damerel 5 14.60x
West Bromwich 5 11.01x
Westminster St John 5 17.46x
Birkenhead 4 9.67x
St Anne Soho London 4 29.81x
West Overton 4 740.74x
Dinton 3 810.81x
Havant 3 122.95x
Hillingdon 3 40.05x
Islington London 3 1.32x
Lambeth 3 1.46x
Manchester 3 2.39x
Nether Wallop 3 476.19x
Pentrich 3 144.93x
Rotherhithe 3 10.33x
Shoreditch London 3 2.94x
St George In East London 3 13.57x
Warsop 3 357.14x
Barking 2 14.73x
Brighton 2 2.50x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 13.01x
Cardiff St Mary 2 8.87x
Holdenhurst 2 15.82x
Langley Burrell 2 232.56x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 5.31x
Walsall Foreign 2 4.88x
Alton Priors 1 625.00x
Barnstaple 1 13.02x
Beddington 1 22.57x
Bedminster 1 2.81x
Bow London 1 3.34x
Crawley 1 270.27x
Devizes St James 1 36.23x
Devonport 1 17.79x
Exminster 1 56.82x
Fisherton De La Mere 1 416.67x
Gateshead 1 1.91x
Hammersmith London 1 1.73x
Hastings All Sts 1 26.81x
Kensington London 1 0.77x
Newington 1 1.15x
Newton Abbot St Mary 1 24.39x
Over Wallop 1 227.27x
Paddington London 1 1.16x
Plumstead 1 3.74x
Portland 1 12.05x
Romsey Infra 1 61.35x
St Andrewthe Less 1 5.88x
St Columb Major 1 45.25x
St Luke London 1 2.65x
St Woollos 1 5.27x
Tranmere 1 5.24x
Upper Beeding 1 204.08x
Walmer 1 28.65x
Westbury On Trym 1 6.40x
Wilcott 1 222.22x
Wilton 1 68.03x
Winlaton 1 14.90x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dowdell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dowdell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
George 16
William 14
John 11
James 8
Charles 6
Henry 6
Thomas 6
Edwin 5
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Frederick 2
Marsden 2
Patrick 2
Phillip 2
Albert 1
Alberta 1
Bernard 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fred.W. 1
Freeman 1
Job 1
Joseph 1
Phineas 1
Sydney 1
Thos.H. 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Dowdell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dowdell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 241 people were recorded with the Dowdell surname. That placed it at #11,374 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dowdell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 421 in 2016. That gives Dowdell a modern rank of #11,388.

What does the Dowdell surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Dubhdálaigh," meaning "descendant of the dark and blind one."

What does the Dowdell map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dowdell bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.