What is the origin of the surname Downard?

Question

I know they came from Ireland, but are they originally Irish?

Answer 1

http://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=downard

Before the clearances in Scotland, there were many with the Downard surname in Aberdeenshire Scotland.

There were concentrations in a number of counties in England, especially London and Sussex.

Click on the edress at the top to see more detail and also distribution in the USA.

Comments

That seems like the right direction, Frank. Thanks!

Answer 2

surnamedb.com does not have information on the Downard surname, but familysearch.org  shows Downards in Kent, England in 1600 and in London, England in 1588.

They were in Ireland in the 1600's

Moris Downing
Ireland Marriages, 1619-1898
marriage:    26 January 1661    Derry Cathedral, Templemore, Londonderry, Ireland    
spouse:    Frances Perkin        

Anne Downing
Find A Grave Index
death:    1621    
burial:        Dublin, , County Dublin, Ireland

They were in Scotland in the 1500's

Johnne Downy
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    5 October 1589    , STIRLING, STIRLING, SCOTLAND
residence:        Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland    
father:    Thomas Downy
mother:    Cathrein Liddell        

Johnne Downy
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    6 August 1587    , STIRLING, STIRLING, SCOTLAND
residence:        Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland    
father:    Alexander Downy
mother:    Marione Blakburn        

Downy
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    7 January 1587    , STIRLING, STIRLING, SCOTLAND
residence:        Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland    
father:    Johnne Downy
mother:    Elezabeth Neilsone        

Robert Downie
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    15 May 1589    , STIRLING, STIRLING, SCOTLAND
residence:        Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland    
father:    Johnne Downie
mother:    Elezabeth Neilsone        

Jonet Downy
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    23 April 1590    , STIRLING, STIRLING, SCOTLAND
residence:        Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland    
father:    Alexander Downy
mother:    Marione Blakburn        

Marion Dounie
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    27 April 1600    , FALKIRK, STIRLING, SCOTLAND
residence:        Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland    
father:    John Dounie
mother:    Jeills Crossar        

Jonet Downie
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    23 January 1596    , FALKIRK, STIRLING, SCOTLAND
residence:        Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland    
father:    Johne Downie
mother:    Jeills Crossar        

Jonet Downie
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    30 April 1587    , STIRLING, STIRLING, SCOTLAND
residence:        Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland    
father:    Duncane Downie
mother:    Margaret Wilsone        

Charlis Downie
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    17 June 1576    SAINT NICHOLAS, ABERDEEN, ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND    
father:    Andro Downie
mother:    Marione Joniston        

Bessie Downy
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    12 June 1586    MONIFIETH, ANGUS, SCOTLAND    
father:    Jhonne Downy        

Alexr. Downy
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    7 February 1579    MONIFIETH, ANGUS, SCOTLAND    
father:    Jhone Downy        

Jonet Downie
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    23 January 1596    , FALKIRK, STIRLING, SCOTLAND    
father:    Johne Downie
mother:    Jeills Crossar        

Violet Donyng
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    17 November 1566    PERTH, PERTH, SCOTLAND    
father:    Robert Donyng        

Christane Donyng
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    26 October 1561    PERTH, PERTH, SCOTLAND    
father:    Dauid Donyng        

Patrik Donyng
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    2 May 1563    PERTH, PERTH, SCOTLAND    
father:    Robert Donyng        

Jonet Downie
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    30 April 1587    , STIRLING, STIRLING, SCOTLAND    
father:    Duncane Downie
mother:    Margaret Wilsone        

Jonet Downy
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    23 April 1590    , STIRLING, STIRLING, SCOTLAND    
father:    Alexander Downy
mother:    Marione Blakburn        

Downy
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    7 January 1587    STIRLING, STIRLING, SCOTLAND    
father:    Johnne Downy
mother:    Elezabeth Neilsone        

James Downy
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
christening:    May 1590    STIRLING, STIRLING, SCOTLAND    
father:    Duncane Downy
mother:    Margaret Wilsone