Explore the Family Name Downer
The meaning of Downer
1. English (Isle of Wight, Hampshire, and Sussex): topographic name for someone who lived on a hill or down, from Middle English douner, a derivative of Middle English doun (Old English dūn) ‘hill’ + -er. It is synonymous with atte Doune (see Down) and is a type of formation especially common in Sussex, Surrey, and Hampshire. 2. English: in the north-West Midlands perhaps a variant of Downward with shortening of the final syllable to -er, a habitational name probably from Downwood (Herefordshire) and perhaps also Dunwood (Staffordshire), with -wood re-etymologized as -ward and occasionally shortened to -ard. See also Downard. 3. Irish (Tipperary): variant of Dooner.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Downer in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Downer" increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname ranked 7031 in terms of popularity, but it rose to 6436 in 2010, reflecting a change of about 8.46%. The number of people with this surname also went up during this period, from 4393 in 2000 to 5277 in 2010, indicating an increase of 20.12%. Consequently, the proportion of individuals with this surname per 100k population also grew by 9.82%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,031 | #6,436 | 8.46% |
| Count | 4,393 | 5,277 | 20.12% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.63 | 1.79 | 9.82% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Downer
As for ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals a diversity of ethnic backgrounds associated with the surname "Downer". From 2000 to 2010, there was an upward trend for those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Two or More Races, Hispanic, and Black. While those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 43.48%, individuals reporting as Two or More Races climbed by 30.95%. Hispanics and Blacks saw growth rates of 38.20% and 19.38% respectively. Meanwhile, the percentage of Whites carrying the "Downer" surname witnessed a decrease of 7.60%. There was also a significant drop of 41.67% among those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 73.44% | 67.86% | -7.6% |
| Black | 22.29% | 26.61% | 19.38% |
| Hispanic | 1.78% | 2.46% | 38.2% |
| Two or More Races | 1.68% | 2.2% | 30.95% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.46% | 0.66% | 43.48% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.36% | 0.21% | -41.67% |
Downer ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Downer is British & Irish, which comprises 48.6% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (22.6%) and Nigerian (4.7%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Scandinavian, Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean, Italian, and Spanish & Portuguese.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 48.6% |
| French & German | 22.6% |
| Nigerian | 4.7% |
| Other | 24.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Downer
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Downer have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 80.60% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 80.60% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 80.60% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 79.80% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 79.80% |
What Downer haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Downer is R-CTS4528, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS4528 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include E-M180 and R-P312, which are predominantly found among people with Sub-Saharan African and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Batchelor, Reeve, Salter, Baines, Houk, Bogart, Sims, Mathews, Reitz, Sharp.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Downer surname are: H1, N, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Downer have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Downer" Surname 38.5%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Downer" Surname 33.3%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Downer" Surname 23.5%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Downer" Surname 13.2%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Downer?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Downer are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition