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Dowder Family History

Dowder Surname 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: Downer, Dolder, Dowden, Gowder, Dower, Dowler, Mowder, Lowder, Dowdey

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Dowder family from?

You can see how Dowder families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dowder family name was found in the USA, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dowder families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there was 1 Dowder family living in Mississippi. This was about 33% of all the recorded Dowder's in USA. Mississippi and 2 other states had the highest population of Dowder families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dowder surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What Dowder family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 311 census records available for the last name Dowder. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dowder census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Dowder

Passenger Lists

There are 37 immigration records available for the last name Dowder. 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 Dowder immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 37 military records available for the last name Dowder. For the veterans among your Dowder ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dowder military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dowder family history

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What is the average Dowder lifespan?

Between 1975 and 1993, in the United States, Dowder life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1993, and highest in 1975. The average life expectancy for Dowder in 1975 was 82, and 72 in 1993.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dowder

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dowder ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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