The surname ‘Downs’ originates from England. It is a patronymic of the Scottish, and Irish name ‘Dunn’, derived from the Gaelic word ‘Donn’, a byname for a person with dark hair or a swarthy complexion, from the Gaelic word ‘donn’, meaning ‘dark’, ‘brown’. In English it is also nickname for a man with dark hair or swarthy complexion, from the Middle English, Old English word ‘dunn’ meaning ‘dark coloured’. In part it may also derive from an unrecorded Middle English survival of the Old English byname ‘Dunn(a)’ meaning ‘Dark’. In Scotland it is a habitation name from ‘Dun’ in the former county of Angus (now part of Tayside region), from the Gaelic word ‘dun’ meaning ‘fort’. Compiled information from Historical and Private archive’s has confirmed that the surname ‘Downs’ and or it’s variant’s, dates as far back as the fifteenth century were a ‘Reginald de Downes’, from East Cheshire, England, is recorded in 1407. 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 set…
Coat of arms: Argent three palets gules….