Downes: Last Name Origin and Family Crest

There is no single Downes family crest for every bearer. Herald Lab researches the arms historically associated with the name and explains whose they were.

What Downes means

Genealogists group Downes with Downs. The name is usually explained as “Of the downs”.

The extra “e” in Downes is a spelling habit rather than a different name. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard. Related forms: Down. Downes ranked 5,806 in the 2010 US Census, with 5,956 people answering to the name. It sits among the 10,000 most common last names in the country.

Research your Downes family history with a full surname report and painted coat of arms.