Dowden

Dowden is an English family name. It is a patronymic from an Old English personal name, Dogod (probably a derivative of dugan ‘to avail’, ‘to be of use’), chiefly found in Gloucestershire and Somerset. Notable people with the surname include:


 * Abraham Dowden (1839–1907), American politician
 * Bradley Dowden (born 1942), American philosopher
 * Corey Dowden (born 1968), American football player in the National Football League
 * Edward Dowden (1843–1913), Irish critic and poet
 * Hester Dowden (1868–1949), Irish spiritual medium
 * John Dowden (1840–1910), Irish bishop
 * Ken Dowden (born 1950), English scholar
 * Oliver Dowden (born 1978), British Conservative Party politician, MP for Hertsmere since May 2015
 * Richard Dowden (born 1949), English journalist
 * Steve Dowden (1929–2001), American football player in the National Football League