NameCensus.

UK surname

Down

An English locational surname derived from place names containing the word "down" meaning a hill or elevated ground.

In the 1881 census there were 3,554 people recorded with the Down surname, ranking it #1,271 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,944, ranked #1,713, down from #1,271 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, East Devon and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Down is 4,841 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.0%.

1881 census count

3,554

Ranked #1,271

Modern count

3,944

2016, ranked #1,713

Peak year

1911

4,841 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Down had 3,554 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,271 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,944 in 2016, ranked #1,713.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,841 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Down surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Down surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Down 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 2,728 #1,077
1861 historical 2,756 #1,063
1881 historical 3,554 #1,271
1891 historical 3,878 #1,235
1901 historical 4,288 #1,316
1911 historical 4,841 #1,076
1997 modern 4,209 #1,540
1998 modern 4,289 #1,565
1999 modern 4,277 #1,583
2000 modern 4,256 #1,580
2001 modern 4,096 #1,609
2002 modern 4,208 #1,591
2003 modern 4,104 #1,602
2004 modern 4,049 #1,624
2005 modern 3,965 #1,642
2006 modern 3,924 #1,659
2007 modern 3,956 #1,666
2008 modern 3,985 #1,666
2009 modern 4,044 #1,679
2010 modern 4,099 #1,691
2011 modern 4,077 #1,677
2012 modern 3,954 #1,702
2013 modern 4,002 #1,712
2014 modern 4,016 #1,719
2015 modern 3,979 #1,711
2016 modern 3,944 #1,713

Geography

Back to top

Where Downs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger and Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, East Devon, North Devon and Torridge. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger Devon
5 Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 024 South Somerset
2 East Devon 004 East Devon
3 North Devon 014 North Devon
4 Torridge 009 Torridge
5 East Devon 008 East Devon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Down

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Down

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Down, 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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Down 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

Down is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Down 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 Down is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Down

The surname Down is of English origin, originating in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "dun," which means "hill" or "down." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a down or a hill.

The name can be traced back to the 13th century in various records and documents from southern England. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a person named William de la Dune is mentioned.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, which lists a John atte Doun. This spelling variation indicates the name's connection to a place or location.

The Down surname was also present in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. However, the spelling in the Domesday Book was slightly different, appearing as "Dune" or "Duna."

One notable person with the surname Down was Richard Down, a 16th-century English cartographer and mapmaker, born in 1512. His work included creating maps of various counties in England.

Another notable figure was Olinthus Gregory Down, an English mathematician and Baptist minister, born in 1776 and died in 1859. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and published several works on the subject.

In the 19th century, John Langdon Haydon Down, born in 1828 and died in 1896, was a British physician and the namesake of Down syndrome, a genetic condition he first described in 1866.

Andrew Dickson Down, born in 1828 and died in 1892, was an American engineer and inventor who patented several designs for elevators and other mechanical devices.

Lastly, John Down, born in 1924 and died in 2019, was a British actor known for his roles in numerous television series and films, including "The Ipcress File" and "Gosford Park."

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have carried the surname Down, which has its roots in the Old English language and a connection to geographical features such as hills and downs.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Down families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Down 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. Devon leads with 1,143 Downs recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.65x.

County Total Index
Devon 1,143 15.65x
Kent 400 3.34x
Somerset 308 5.45x
Middlesex 294 0.84x
Surrey 229 1.34x
Wiltshire 199 6.41x
Dorset 145 6.30x
Cornwall 126 3.17x
Sussex 89 1.50x
Gloucestershire 81 1.18x
Hampshire 72 1.00x
Glamorgan 64 1.05x
Lancashire 59 0.14x
Warwickshire 53 0.60x
Durham 44 0.42x
Channel Islands 37 3.56x
Nottinghamshire 29 0.61x
Monmouthshire 23 0.91x
Derbyshire 21 0.38x
Yorkshire 21 0.06x
Cumberland 20 0.66x
Worcestershire 17 0.37x
Essex 16 0.23x
Northumberland 15 0.29x
Berkshire 14 0.53x
Cheshire 13 0.17x
Midlothian 13 0.28x
Royal Navy 11 2.63x
Leicestershire 9 0.23x
Bedfordshire 4 0.22x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.19x
Herefordshire 4 0.28x
Ross-shire 4 0.42x
Staffordshire 4 0.03x
Lincolnshire 2 0.04x
Shropshire 2 0.07x
Argyllshire 1 0.10x
Fife 1 0.05x
Hertfordshire 1 0.04x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Northamptonshire 1 0.03x
Rutland 1 0.39x
Selkirkshire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 106 Downs recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.85x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 106 18.85x
Tavistock 71 85.36x
Stoke Damerel 62 12.13x
Folkestone 46 19.81x
Camberwell 40 1.79x
Plymouth Charles The 40 12.43x
Calstock 37 47.51x
Charing 35 216.05x
Birmingham 34 1.15x
Willesborough 33 102.55x
Lambeth 32 1.05x
St Pancras London 32 1.13x
Northlew 31 338.80x
Corsley 27 220.59x
Black Torrington 26 247.15x
Kensington London 26 1.33x
Lifton 25 142.21x
Thorncombe 25 188.96x
High Bickington 24 290.21x
Clifton 23 6.61x
Deptford St Paul 23 2.49x
Membury 23 297.16x
Mere 23 65.27x
Tonbridge 23 5.33x
Tormoham 23 7.44x
Bermondsey 22 2.11x
Gillingham 22 55.60x
Hackney London 22 1.12x
Islington London 22 0.65x
St George In East London 22 6.67x
Ashford 21 18.02x
Atherington 21 337.62x
Bedminster 21 3.96x
Chard 21 30.70x
Newington 21 1.62x
Hythe St Leonard 20 47.29x
Millom 20 21.61x
Aston 19 0.78x
Glastonbury 19 41.22x
Hammersmith London 19 2.20x
Kingsbury Episcopi 19 103.88x
St Peter Port 19 9.88x
Wilton 19 86.60x
East Stonehouse 18 12.51x
Exeter St Sidwell 18 10.76x
Lewisham 18 2.82x
Minehead 18 84.39x
Sherborne 18 26.54x
South Molton 18 44.87x
Swansea Town 17 3.39x
Witheridge 17 138.10x
Barnstaple 16 13.96x
Ore 16 36.35x
Rotherhithe 16 3.69x
Sampford Courtenay 16 146.65x
St George Hanover Square 16 2.59x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 15 2.32x
Maidstone 15 4.21x
Midsomer Norton 15 28.20x
Axminster 14 40.90x
Bristol St George 14 4.40x
Broadwoodwidger 14 168.88x
Chelsea London 14 1.32x
Combmartin 14 88.33x
Exminster 14 53.31x
Liverpool 14 0.55x
Marytavy 14 130.11x
Swimbridge 14 94.85x
Cheriton 13 26.64x
Ide 13 163.52x
Kyo 13 26.47x
Selworthy 13 263.16x
South Newton 13 160.30x
St Helier 13 3.84x
Steeple Langford 13 207.01x
Winkleigh 13 88.68x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 12 19.15x
Dolton 12 133.19x
Great Cheverell 12 248.45x
Westwell 12 100.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 247
Elizabeth 160
Sarah 103
Ann 74
Emma 63
Ellen 55
Jane 49
Eliza 48
Annie 47
Alice 46
Emily 42
Maria 29
Fanny 28
Edith 27
Hannah 25
Susan 25
Florence 24
Louisa 24
Margaret 23
Charlotte 20
Lucy 20
Martha 20
Ada 19
Caroline 18
Frances 18
Matilda 17
Harriet 16
Catherine 15
Grace 15
Kate 15
Bessie 14
Clara 13
Harriett 13
Jessie 13
Amelia 12
Laura 11
Rosa 11
Agnes 10
Ethel 10
Eva 10
Julia 10
Anne 9
Rose 9
Susanna 9
Amy 8
Bertha 8
Gertrude 7
Mabel 7
Rebecca 7
Elizth. 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 241
John 210
George 146
James 108
Thomas 103
Henry 102
Charles 80
Richard 56
Frederick 49
Edward 41
Samuel 41
Albert 38
Alfred 38
Arthur 33
Walter 28
Robert 25
Joseph 19
Edwin 18
Harry 18
Ernest 14
Frank 13
Herbert 12
Sidney 8
Tom 8
Daniel 7
Elias 7
Fredrick 7
Josiah 7
Simon 7
Benjamin 6
Francis 6
Fred 6
Stephen 6
Andrew 5
Eli 5
Isaac 5
Philip 5
Sydney 5
Edgar 4
Edmund 4
Frederic 4
Fredk. 4
Jacob 4
Jno. 4
Mark 4
Nicholas 4
Reginald 4
Wm. 4
David 3
Lewis 3

FAQ

Down surname: questions and answers

How common was the Down surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,554 people were recorded with the Down surname. That placed it at #1,271 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Down surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,944 in 2016. That gives Down a modern rank of #1,713.

What does the Down surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from place names containing the word "down" meaning a hill or elevated ground.

What does the Down map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Down 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.