Down History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Down were among those contributors:

Down Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Philip Down, who arrived in Virginia in 1706 2
• Martha Down, who settled in America in 1763

Down Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• H. P. Down, who settled in New York State in 1823
• Edward Down, who landed in New York in 1834 2
• John Down, who landed in New York in 1838 2
• George Down, who arrived in New York in 1840 2
• Richard Down, who landed in New York in 1843 2
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Down Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• John Down, who settled in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1759 3

Down Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Thomas Down from Tintern, County Wexford, Ireland was married in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1809 3
• Cornelius Down, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843
• Mr. William Henry Down, (b. 1830), aged 25, English stonemason, from Dartmouth, Devon, England, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, he survived the sinking 4
• Mr. John Down, (b. 1825), aged 30, English smith, from Lifton, Devon, England, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, he survived the sinking 4
• Mr. Wilmot Down, (b. 1827), aged 28, English settler, from Lifton, Devon, England, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, he died in the sinking 4
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Down Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Henry Down, English convict who was convicted in Exeter, Devon, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
• Mr. James Down, British Convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for life for machine breaking, transported aboard the "Eleanor" on 26th June 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
• Miss Julia Cotler Down, (Cotter), (b. 1811), aged 22, English nursery maid who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Buffalo" on 4th May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1889 7
• Edward Down, English convict from Kent, who was transported aboard the "Anson" on September 23, 1843, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 8
• Mr. John Down, (b. 1826), aged 18, English labourer who was convicted in Exeter, Devon, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 9th May 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1848 9
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Down Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• W. H. Down, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Surat" in 1864
• Mr. John Down, (b. 1842), aged 22, Scottish farm labourer from Caithness travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "William Miles" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 22nd October 1864 10
• Miss Elizabeth Anne Down, (b. 1842), aged 27, British cook travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 30th September 1869 11
• Mr. Robert Down, (b. 1848), aged 22, British ploughman travelling from London aboard the ship "Monarch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1870 11
• Miss Rebecca Down, (b. 1850), aged 27, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Oamaru" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th January 1878, for Bluff 10
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• Richard John Down (b. 1950), American Major League Baseball hitting coach
• Norman Cecil Sommers Down CMG, Senior Principal Inspector of Taxes
• Ralph J. Down, American Republican politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Mercer County; Elected 1952 12
• James H. Down, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, 1935, 1939 12
• Edgar F. Down, American Republican politician, School teacher and principal; Member of Michigan State Senate 12th District, 1947-48; Defeated in primary, 1948 12
• Edgar F. Down, American politician, Mayor of Highland Park, Michigan; Elected 1922 12
• Lesley-Anne Down (b. 1954), English film and television actress former model and singer
• Sir Edward Thomas "Ted" Down (1924-2009), English conductor, specialising in opera
• Geoffrey "Geoff" Down (b. 1952), English rock keyboard player and songwriter
• John Langdon Down (1828-1890), English doctor, eponym of Down's Syndrome
• ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)