Downey family name history and map
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Downey in 1911 Ireland
The 1911 Census recorded 3,298 people named Downey in Ireland, about 0.075% of everyone living in the country at the time and the 268th most common surname overall. The name was split fairly evenly between men and women: 1,667 men and 1,628 women. (A small number, 3, had no sex recorded.)
Counties and map with Downey in Ireland
Cork had the largest share of Downeys, 19.1% (629 people). Next came Antrim (331), Down (314), Dublin (259) and Kerry (196).
Downey average age in 1911
The average Downey in 1911 was 29.8 years old, 29.5 for men and 30.0 for women; almost exactly in line with the national averages of 29.6 for men and 30.5 for women. That low figure reflects just how many children there were in Edwardian Ireland, along with high infant mortality and the limits of public health at the time. For comparison, average life expectancy in Ireland today is around 83.
Downey literacy in 1911
Of the Downeys whose literacy was recorded, 78.2% could both read and write, 3.7% could read but not write, and 18.1% could do neither. Men came out slightly ahead, 79.8% reading and writing against 76.5% of women. Bear in mind these figures include young children; the census itself only counted people aged nine and over when calculating illiteracy, on the grounds that it was unfair to label a child illiterate before they'd had a chance to learn.
Downey common first names
The most common male names were John (247), James, Patrick, Michael and Thomas; the same five names that topped the list nationally. For women it was Mary (253), followed by Ellen, Margaret, Bridget and Kate.
Downey occupations in 1911
The most common entry on a Downey's census form was "Scholar"; 19.8% (652) were children at school. Among the rest, the most common occupations were farmer (11.4%), general labourer (5.6%), textile worker (4%) and farm labourer (3.9%). Grouped by sector, agriculture accounted for 15.8% of all Downeys, followed by textiles & clothing, general labourers and domestic service.
What religion is Downey?
Downeys were predominantly Roman Catholic (85.9%). The remainder were mostly Anglican (7.8%), Presbyterian (3.3%), Methodist (1.7%) and Congregationalist (0.2%).
Visitor Notes
Review type for post source and surnames source type not found
Added by
Pete F
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Downey statistics (1911)
Number: 3,298
Rank: 268
Average Age: 30
Downey in the USA (2020)
Number: 25,382
Rank: 1,362
Note: If there were less than 100 in the USA census it may show as zero.
