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Dowsley Family History

Dowsley Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Towsley, Owsley, Dowley, Cowley, Howley, Worsley, Mosley, Downey

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Dowsley family from?

You can see how Dowsley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dowsley family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Dowsley families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1911 there were 24 Dowsley families living in Ontario. This was about 86% of all the recorded Dowsley's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Dowsley families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dowsley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Dowsley ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Labourer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Dowsley. 67% of Dowsley men worked as a Labourer and 50% of Dowsley women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dowsley were Income and Income. .

View Census Data for Dowsley | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Labourer
    67%
  • Income
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Stenographer
    50%
  • Income
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Dowsley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Dowsley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dowsley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Dowsley

Passenger Lists

There are 247 immigration records available for the last name Dowsley. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Dowsley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 410 military records available for the last name Dowsley. For the veterans among your Dowsley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dowsley military records

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What is the average Dowsley lifespan?

Between 1967 and 2002, in the United States, Dowsley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1983, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Dowsley in 1967 was 78, and 78 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dowsley

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