English
The surname 'Downey' originates from Scotland, and Ireland. It is a variant of the name 'Downie', derived from the Anglicixed Gaelic form 'O'Dunadhaigh' meaning 'descendant of Dunadhach', a personal name meaning 'fortress holder' (from the from 'dun' meaning fortress, fortified hill ). In Scottish it is a habitational name from the Scotish barony of Downie or Duny in the parish of Monikie in the former county of Angus (now part of Tayside region), so called from the gaelic form 'dun' meaning hill and the local suffix -ach. Compiled information from Historical and Private archive's has confirmed that the surname 'Downey' and or it's variant's, dates as far back as the thirteenth century were a 'Gilbert de la Downe', from the county of Essex, England, is recorded on the Hundred Rolls in 1273. The exact period of settlement in North America has not been definitely determined but Information extracted from Public and Civil registry archive's confirm that one of the first settlers was a certain 'Christian Downy', aged 25, a spinster by trade, from Glenorch, Argyllshire, Scotland. He emigrated to North America in 1775, sailing aboard the ship named the 'Jupiter' on the 29th of October , arriving in Wilmington, North carolina on the 4th of September of the same. Today, 'Downey' is the '1026th' most common surname in North America.