Downie or Downey is a surname. There appears to be a number of sources of the Downie/Downey surname in

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

and

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

, with the intermittent mix in

Ulster Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ...

. The spelling of the surname as Downie is almost unique to Scotland with minor instances in

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

( Antrim). The following information on the origins of the name are taken from.

In Scotland

There are Dounie/Doune/Downie place names or hill forts or Dun in most parishes in Scotland, including

Aberdeen Aberdeen ( ; ; ) is a port city in North East Scotland, and is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, third most populous Cities of Scotland, Scottish city. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of Aberdeensh ...

Angus Angus may refer to: *Angus, Scotland, a council area of Scotland, and formerly a province, sheriffdom, county and district of Scotland * Angus, Canada, a community in Essa, Ontario Animals * Angus cattle, various breeds of beef cattle Media * ...

Stirling Stirling (; ; ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in Central Belt, central Scotland, northeast of Glasgow and north-west of Edinburgh. The market town#Scotland, market town, surrounded by rich farmland, grew up connecting the roya ...

Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...

Inverness Inverness (; ; from the , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness") is a city in the Scottish Highlands, having been granted city status in 2000. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highland ...

and the

Isle of Lewis The Isle of Lewis () or simply Lewis () is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. The two parts are frequently referred to as if they were separate islands. The t ...

. The name may derive from any of these, or from the Barony of Downie in Angus. It is also a derivative of the Gaelic Mac Gille/Maol Domhnaich or McAldonich "son of the servant of the Lord (Sunday)" which both are anglicised to Macgildownie, Mcildownie and Gildownie (and many variations) to Downie, mainly in the parishes of

Argyll Argyll (; archaically Argyle; , ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a Shires of Scotland, historic county and registration county of western Scotland. The county ceased to be used for local government purposes in 1975 and most of the area ...

, western

and

In Ireland

O’Dunadhaigh is a person identified with a fort or Dun. This surname is found mostly in

County Galway County Galway ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Northern and Western Region, taking up the south of the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht. The county population was 276,451 at the 20 ...

, South West

Cork "Cork" or "CORK" may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Stopper (plug), or "cork", a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container *** Wine cork an item to seal or reseal wine Places Ireland * ...

and

Leinster Leinster ( ; or ) is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in the southeast of Ireland. The modern province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige, which existed during Gaelic Ireland. Following the 12th-century ...

. The surname is often anglicised to Downey. Mac Dunadhaigh, identified with a fort or Dun, is the surname of an old

Galway Galway ( ; , ) is a City status in Ireland, city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the List of settleme ...

family.

Patronymics

The first name such as Maol Domhnaich, or Muldonich meaning the "Lord's Devotee" have been used in Scotland and may have been the precursors to the Mac variations.

Notable people

Notable people with the surname Downie include: *

Alex Downie Alexander Frank Downie, OBE, MLC (born 1945, Douglas) is a Manx politician and former marine engineer. He is a member of the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man and a former Trade and Industry Minister of the Government. He was a Membe ...

, member of the Legislative Council of the

Isle of Man The Isle of Man ( , also ), or Mann ( ), is a self-governing British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland. As head of state, Charles III holds the title Lord of Mann and is represented by a Lieutenant Govern ...

Allan Watt Downie Allan Watt Downie FRS (5 September 1901 – 26 January 1988) was a Scottish microbiologist involved in the eradication of smallpox. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is a ...

(1901–1988), Scottish microbiologist *

Becky Downie Rebecca Lauren Downie (born 24 January 1992 in Nottingham) is a British artistic gymnast who competed at the 2008, 2016, and 2024 Summer Olympics. She is a double European champion (2014 and 2016) and 2014 Commonwealth Games champion on the ...

(or Rebecca Downie), British gymnast European and world medalist *

Ellie Downie Elissa Rebecca "Ellie" Downie (born 20 July 1999) is a retired artistic gymnast who has represented Great Britain. She is the all-around 2017 European gymnastics champion, the first gymnast to win a major all-around title for Great Britain. ...

, British gymnast world and European medalist *

David Downie David D. Downie (born in San Francisco in 1958) is a multilingual Paris-based American nonfiction author, crime novelist and journalist who writes most often about culture, food and travel. Biography Downie's family background is revealed in hi ...

, American author * David L. Downie, American scholar *

Dorothy G. Downie Dorothy G. Downie (16 September 1894 – 22 August 1960) was a Scottish botanist and forester. She is known for her research on the fungal symbionts and nutritional requirements of orchids. She was the first woman to graduate in forestry at the ...

(1894–1960), British botanist * Freda Downie (1929-1993), English poet *

Gary Downie Roderick Gary Downie Pinkus (17 July 1940 – 19 January 2006) was a South African-born English production manager on many 1980s episodes of the long-running science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', and partner of its producer John N ...

, production manager *

Gord Downie Gordon Edgar Downie (February 6, 1964 – October 17, 2017) was a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, musician, writer, poet, and activist. He was the singer and lyricist for the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, which he fronted from ...

(1964–2017), Canadian rock musician * Jack Downie, Scottish footballer * James Downie (footballer), 19th century footballer * James Downie (cyclist), New Zealand racing cyclist * Johnny Downie, Scottish footballer * John Wallace Downie, Scottish businessman and politician *

Kenneth Downie Kenneth Downie is a composer of brass band music. He was born in Glasgow in 1946 and educated at Greenock High School, the Royal Manchester College of Music and Durham University. He then became a specialist music teacher in schools before leavin ...

, Scottish composer * Leonard Downie Jr., American journalist *

Mike Downie Mike Downie is a Canadian documentary filmmaker. The older brother of late Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie, he is best known for his work with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. The founder of the film production company Edgarland Film ...

, Canadian documentary filmmaker *

Penny Downie Penny Downie is an Australian actress known for her stage and television appearances in the United Kingdom. From 2017 until 2021 she played Ellen in the British TV sitcom ''Back''. She plays the US ambassador’s house manager Frances Munning ...

, Australian actress *

Nick Downie Nicolas Jon Downie (27 May 1946 – 12 May 2021) was a British journalist and soldier. Education and early career Nick Downie was educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College, at the Middlesex Hospital and Stirling Lines. One year ...

, soldier and war correspondent *

Robert Downie Robert Downie Victoria Cross, VC, Military Medal, MM (12 January 1894 – 18 April 1968) was a Scotland, Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded ...

, Scottish soldier * Robert Downie (footballer), Scottish football goalkeeper * Ruth Downie, British novelist *

Steve Downie Steve Downie (born April 3, 1987) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins and Arizona Coyote ...

, Canadian ice hockey player *

Tim Downie Timothy Richard Downie (born 14 July 1977) is an English actor and writer. He is known for the television series '' Toast of London'', '' Outlander'' and '' Upstart Crow'', the films ''Paddington'' and ''The King's Speech'', and the video game ' ...

, British actor and writer *

Tyrone Downie Tyrone Downie (20 May 1956 – 5 November 2022) was a Jamaican keyboardist and pianist best known for his involvement as a member of Bob Marley and the Wailers.Foster, Chuck (1999) ''Roots Rock Reggae'', Billboard Books, , p. 66, 116 He studie ...

, member of Bob Marley and The Wailers

Places

* Downie Hills, Scotland *

Downiehills Downiehills is a settlement in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, located about three miles west of Peterhead Peterhead (; , ) is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is the council area's largest settlement, with a population of 19,060 at the 202 ...

, Scotland *

Downie Peak Downie Peak is a mountain summit located in British Columbia, Canada. Description Part of the Selkirk Mountains, Downie Peak is situated north of Revelstoke and east of Lake Revelstoke. Prominently visible from nearly every peak in the Nor ...

, British Columbia *

Downie Point Downie Point is a prominent headland located at the southern edge of Stonehaven Bay in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. (United Kingdom, 2004) From the Stonehaven Harbour, there is a panoramic view of this cliff landform, especially from the tip of Bel ...

, Scotland *

Downie River The Downie River is an approximately tributary of the North Yuba River in Sierra County, California, in the United States. The river originates from the confluence of the West Branch Downie River and Rattlesnake Creek in the Tahoe National For ...

, California * Downie's Loup, a Scottish waterfall

Other

Downie bodies Downie bodies, also known as a type of A-type inclusion, are a type of inclusion body (protein aggregates) associated with cowpox. They are named for Allan Watt Downie. A Downie body is different from a ''Downey cell'' which is a reactive lymphocyt ...

* Downie's spotted leaf beetle

References

{{surname, Downie