Show ContentsDowlman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Dowlman surname is a habitational name, taken on from Dowland in Devon. This place takes its name from the Old English word "du-fe," meaning "dove," and "land" meaning "land," or "an estate." [1]

Early Origins of the Dowlman family

The surname Dowlman was first found in Yorkshire where "the instance seems to imply another Dowland in that county, especially as the surname is fairly familiar in the North." [2]

Dowland is also a parish in Devon which dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was known as Duuelande. [3]

But we must again look to Yorkshire for the first record of the family; for it was there that Willelmus de Dowland was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. [2]

Early History of the Dowlman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dowlman research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1455, 1487, 1490, 1563, 1584, 1588, 1592, 1597, 1610, 1626 and 1641 are included under the topic Early Dowlman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dowlman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dowland, Douland, Dowlind, Dowlan, Doulin, Dowlman and many more.

Early Notables of the Dowlman family

Distinguished members of the family include Thomas Dowland (1490s), a master mason, who built the west tower of the Holy Cross Guild Chapel at Stratford-on-Avon.John Dowland (1563-1626), was an English composer, singer and virtuoso lutenist, said to have been born at Westminster. In 1584 he visited France and Germany, and, after remaining some months in the latter country, crossed the Alps into Italy. Having returned to England he, in 1588, took the degree of Bachelor of Music at Oxford, and was subsequently admitted to the same degree at Cambridge. In 1592 he was one of the musicians engaged in harmonizing the...
Another 122 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dowlman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dowlman family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Peter Dowland, who came to Virginia in 1650; Edmund Dowland, who settled in Virginia in 1654; William Dowland, who arrived in Annapolis, MD in 1733; Margaret Dowland, a bonded passenger, who came to America in 1761.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)


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