DOWNING
The surname Downing is of English origin and has been recorded in the British Isles since the late 12th century.
Its etymology is based on the Old English word dun, meaning “hill” or “down”, combined with the suffix -ing which denotes “descendant of” or “belonging to”. Consequently, the name can be interpreted as “descendant of the person who lived by the hill” or “one who belonged to the hill.” This locational origin links the name to places named Downing or Downings in various parts of England, and the surname remains common in English‑speaking populations.
An alternative derivation is from the Old English nickname dunn or Dunna, meaning “dark‑coloured” or “the dark one.” In this sense Downing is a patronymic form, meaning “son of Dunn”. The name appears in medieval tax and legal records such as Geoffrey Dounyng (1311, Essex), Alice Downyng (1379, Yorkshire) and John Downing, sheriff of Norwich (1432, Norfolk).
Historical bearers of the name include Francis Downing, an early emigrant listed in the 1624 muster at Charles City, Virginia, and Sir George Downing (1623 – 1684), the first baronet. He served as scout‑master‑general of Cromwell's army in Scotland in 1650, was involved in the movement to offer the crown to Cromwell, and was noted by the diplomat Colbert as “le plus grand querelleur des diplomates de son temps.” The subsequent Sir George Downing (1684 – 1749) founded Downing College in the University of Cambridge.
The earliest documented spelling of the family name is that of Richard Duning, dated 1197 in the Fines Court Records of Oxfordshire during the reign of King Richard I, known as “The Lionheart” (1189 – 1199). These records underline the long-standing presence of the surname within England and its evolution from both locational and patronymic roots.
Typical given names associated with the Downing surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Angela
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Julie
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Dunning
- Donning
- Douning
- Doning
- Downin
- Daning
- Danning
- Dawning
- Deaning
- Deening
- Degning
- Denenga
- Dening
- Denning
- Dining
- Dinning
- Doonin
- Dowming
- Downine
- Downings
- Downling
- Downng
- Duning
- Duningham
- Dunings
- Dunming
- Dunningan
- Dunnings
- Dyning
- Taning
- Tanning
- Tenning
- Tining
- Tinning
- Tonning
- Towning
- Tuininga
- Tuning
- Tunning
- Twyning
- Tyning
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Downing in...
Braille
⠙⠕⠺⠝⠊⠝⠛
Morse
-..---.---...-.--.
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Downing are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Milk Chocolate Digestive.
There are approximately 8,540 people named Downing in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,111th most common surname in Britain. Around 131 in a million people in Britain are named Downing.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Downing
- Stewart Downing - Football player
- K. K. Downing - Musician
- Paul Downing - Football player
- Keith Downing - Football player and manager
- Dean Downing - Racing cyclist
- Ken Downing - Racecar driver (1917 to 2004)
- Derrick Downing - Football player
- Lisa Downing - Author, academic
- Russell Downing - Road cyclist
- Samuel Downing - Football player (1883 to 1)
- David Downing - Football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.