Dowdy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish families left their homeland in astonishing numbers during the 19th century in search of a better life. Although individual reasons vary, most of these Irish families suffered from extreme poverty, lack of work opportunities, and exorbitant rents in their homeland. Many decided to travel to Australia or North America in the hopes of finding greater opportunities and land. The Irish immigrants that came to North America initially settled on the East Coast, often in major centers such as Boston or New York. But like the many other cultures to settle in North America, the Irish traveled to almost any region they felt held greater promise; as a result, many Irish with gold fever moved all the way out to the Pacific coast. Others before that time left for land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula, or the Maritimes as United Empire Loyalists, for many Irish did choose to side with the English during the American War of Independence. The earliest wave of Irish migration, however, occurred during the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the Dowdy name:

Dowdy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Henry Dowdy, who landed in Connecticut in 1639 4
• George Dowdy, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1645 4
• John Dowdy, who arrived in Virginia in 1657 4
• Danl Dowdy, who landed in Virginia in 1699 4

Dowdy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Joseph Dowdy, who arrived in Virginia in 1717 4
• Nathaniel Dowdy, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1794 4

Dowdy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• William James Dowdy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Ramillies" in 1849 5
• Marie Dowdy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Ramillies" in 1849 5
• Richard James Dowdy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Ramillies" in 1849 5
• William Ramillies McLean Dowdy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Ramillies" in 1849 5
• Bridget Dowdy, aged 18, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Sibella" 6

Dowdy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Thomas Dowdy, aged 19, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Soukar" in 1874

• Colonel Joe D. Dowdy, American commanding officer of the Regimental Combat Team 1 during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, current Special Operations Manager at NASA's Kennedy Space Center
• Adam Matthew Dowdy (b. 1975), American former professional baseball umpire who worked more than 400 games between 2002 and 2008
• Nancy M. O'Fallon Dowdy, American nuclear physicist who was instrumental in nuclear disarmament negotiations between the U.S. and the Soviet Union after the Cold War, Fellow of the American Physical Society
• Lewis Carnegie Dowdy (1917-2000), American educator, the 6th President, and first chancellor of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (1964-1972)
• Cecil Dowdy (1945-2002), American college football player and businessman, two-time National champion (1964, 1965)
• Bill Dowdy (b. 1933), American musician and teacher, born in Arkansas, best known as the drummer for the jazz trio, The Three Sounds
• Charles Wayne Dowdy (b. 1943), American former politician, United States Congressman from Mississippi (1981-1989)
• John Vernard Dowdy (1912-1995), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas (1952-1967) and (1967-1973)
• Helen Dowdy, American Broadway actress and singer