Dowden is an English family name. It is 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.
Abraham Dowden (1839-1907), American politician
Corey Dowden, 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, British Conservative Party politician, MP for Hertsmere since May 2015
Richard Dowden, English journalist
Steve Dowden (born 1929), American football player in the National Football League
