This study of the Dower surname [and variants] begins in Cornwall, England.  Wendron Parish, Cornwall, is where my family tree begins, and this one name study grew out of research into my Dower tree which was started more than 20 years ago.

This study is at present under construction.  I will be adding data from time to time as it becomes available for publishing on this site.

The earliest spelling of the surname appears to be Dowa and Dawa, followed by Dowah and Dowar.  These names are found in Cornwall, England, and the modern spelling [Dower] is found world-wide.

There are several different origins of the surname Dower online-

Occupational [old English "dah" meaning "dough" plus the agent suffix "er" [one who works with] which gives "the maker of dough - a baker" - www.surnamedb.com

"A rabbit's burrow" - www.britishsurnames.co.uk

"Water" - www.forebears.io/surnames

Samuel Dower, convict transported to Van Diemans Land [Tasmania] for sheep stealing, 10 years.  28 years old; departed 1844 on "Equestrian".

William Dower christened 27 October 1823 in Wendron, Cornwall, died 15 January 1887 Lower Pewabic, Michigan, USA.

William Dower 1857 Cornwall to 25 July 1902 Johannesburg, South Africa.  He married Mary Anna Lanyon in Somerset December Quarter 1878.

1841 UK Census Cornwall 342,159 entries - 13.6% of population.

1881 UK Census Cornwall 330,686 - 8.7%

1911 Uk Census Cornwall 328,098 - 1.8%

1937 Register UK 42,448 total entries.  London entries 4,695; Lancashire entries 3243 entries, Yorkshire 2,364, Wales 2,443, Cornwall 1,037.

US Census 1940 43,718 total entries.

The Dower surname has been traced in Cornwall, Devon, Cumberland, Yorkshire, Northumberland, Durham Lancashire, and Wales.  It also appears in Ireland and Scotland. From Britain the name has been traced to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and United States.

Online Cornwall Parish Clerks [bdm], UK General Records Office [births], Census [FreeCen and familysearch.org], Freebmd [bmd], findmypast [all records], familysearch.org Wiki England parish records entries.  Australia bdm Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.  New Zealand bdm index.

Archives UK, Australia, United States, New Zealand, South Africa. 

Emigration/Passenger Lists world-wide.

War Records UK, Australia, USA, NZ.

Wills Australia, New Zealand, USA.  

My Heritage autosomal [both parents] DNA test October 2021 gives my ethnicity as

81.3% Irish, Scottish, Welsh

10.6% Scandinavian

8.1% Iberian.

Test results show Dower connections in USA, Australia, United Kingdom.