NameCensus.

UK surname

Downe

In the 1881 census there were 213 people recorded with the Downe surname, ranking it #12,328 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 153, ranked #23,408, down from #12,328 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hammersmith and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Gloucestershire, Bristol and Conon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Downe is 310 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.2%.

1881 census count

213

Ranked #12,328

Modern count

153

2016, ranked #23,408

Peak year

1891

310 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Downe had 213 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,328 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 153 in 2016, ranked #23,408.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 310 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Downe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Downe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Downe 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 220 #9,671
1861 historical 262 #9,458
1881 historical 213 #12,328
1891 historical 310 #10,812
1901 historical 218 #14,332
1911 historical 192 #15,342
1997 modern 191 #18,150
1998 modern 194 #18,451
1999 modern 195 #18,517
2000 modern 188 #18,916
2001 modern 184 #18,907
2002 modern 176 #19,829
2003 modern 176 #19,623
2004 modern 173 #19,937
2005 modern 158 #21,052
2006 modern 165 #20,634
2007 modern 161 #21,201
2008 modern 159 #21,598
2009 modern 158 #22,168
2010 modern 153 #23,175
2011 modern 150 #23,309
2012 modern 148 #23,457
2013 modern 149 #23,765
2014 modern 147 #24,177
2015 modern 149 #23,817
2016 modern 153 #23,408

Geography

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Where Downes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hammersmith, St Dunstan Stepney, Lambeth and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Conon, Lewes and Ashford. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Hammersmith London (West Districts)
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Gloucestershire 031 South Gloucestershire
2 Bristol 030 Bristol, City of
3 Conon Highland
4 Lewes 008 Lewes
5 Ashford 002 Ashford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Downe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Downe

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Downe, 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 Downe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Downe 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Downe is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Downe 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

Downe falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Downe 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 Downe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Downe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Downe 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. Middlesex leads with 46 Downes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.23x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 46 2.23x
Kent 41 5.84x
Cheshire 14 3.08x
Surrey 13 1.30x
Devon 12 2.80x
Dorset 11 8.14x
Cornwall 9 3.86x
Glamorgan 9 2.51x
Somerset 8 2.41x
Yorkshire 8 0.39x
Durham 5 0.82x
Warwickshire 5 0.96x
Wiltshire 5 2.75x
Lancashire 4 0.16x
Hampshire 3 0.71x
Monmouthshire 3 2.02x
Sussex 3 0.86x
Derbyshire 2 0.62x
Ayrshire 1 0.65x
Bedfordshire 1 0.94x
Carmarthenshire 1 1.15x
Dumfriesshire 1 2.20x
Herefordshire 1 1.19x
Lincolnshire 1 0.30x
Norfolk 1 0.32x
Royal Navy 1 4.08x
Shropshire 1 0.56x
Suffolk 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 14 Downes recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.96x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town London 14 31.96x
Appledore 12 2608.70x
Hammersmith London 11 21.70x
Pott Shrigley 8 2962.96x
North Curry 7 619.47x
Acton 6 49.71x
Faversham 6 89.55x
Holsworthy 6 495.87x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 5 67.48x
Monknash 5 10000.00x
Ryarsh 5 1282.05x
Stranton 5 24.26x
Warehorne 5 1351.35x
Westminster St Margaret 5 50.35x
Aston 4 2.80x
Powerstock 4 689.66x
Pyle 4 606.06x
Sixpenny Handley 4 606.06x
Blackburn 3 4.62x
Brighton 3 4.29x
Camberwell 3 2.28x
Camborne 3 31.25x
Chatham 3 15.53x
Cheadle 3 34.56x
Eastwell 3 3750.00x
Mylor 3 192.31x
Newington 3 3.95x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 9.09x
Saltash 3 165.75x
St George Hanover Square 3 8.27x
Tollard Royal 3 1500.00x
Bolsover 2 123.46x
Dalwood 2 689.66x
Donhead St Mary 2 215.05x
Hampstead London 2 6.24x
Kenardington 2 1538.46x
Lambeth 2 1.11x
Liscard 2 24.42x
Monmouth 2 50.63x
Rotherhithe 2 7.86x
St Marylebone London 2 1.82x
Tonbridge 2 7.90x
Barsham 1 476.19x
Battersea 1 1.32x
Beaminster 1 66.67x
Bedhampton 1 200.00x
Birmingham 1 0.58x
Blandford Forum 1 37.45x
Brawby 1 833.33x
Castle Cary 1 69.44x
Chartham 1 57.14x
Dryfesdale 1 47.62x
Edmondsham 1 625.00x
Eltham 1 24.33x
Exeter St Leonard 1 85.47x
Heigham 1 5.89x
Hook Malden 1 250.00x
Hornsey 1 3.84x
Huddersfield 1 3.37x
Irvine 1 23.36x
Leighton Buzzard 1 21.83x
Liverpool 1 0.67x
Llannon 1 84.03x
Lower Llanvrechva 1 68.49x
Mablethorpe 1 222.22x
Monks Coppenhall 1 5.83x
Portsea 1 1.21x
Portsmouth 1 10.30x
Rainton Cum Newby 1 357.14x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 16.03x
St George Martyr London 1 23.98x
Sutton 1 13.77x
Swanscombe 1 31.75x
Tretire With 1 1000.00x
Westminster St James 1 4.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 15
Charles 7
James 7
Joseph 5
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Edward 3
George 3
John 3
Alexander 2
Daniel 2
Henry 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Apollo 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Duncan 1
E.William 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Gabril 1
Herbert 1
Hny. 1
Hugh 1
Jas. 1
Leonard 1
Llewellyn 1
Matthew 1
Morgan 1
Nicholas 1
Richard 1
S.Thompson 1
Samuel 1
Simeon 1

FAQ

Downe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Downe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 213 people were recorded with the Downe surname. That placed it at #12,328 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Downe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 153 in 2016. That gives Downe a modern rank of #23,408.

What does the Downe map show?

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