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Purkens Family History

Purkens Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Perkes, Burkins, Jurgens, Perkins, Lukens, Parkins, Currens, Purkey

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Purkens family from?

You can see how Purkens families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Purkens family name was found in the USA between 1840 and 1920. The most Purkens families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 2 Purkens families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 67% of all the recorded Purkens's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Purkens families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Purkens surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What Purkens family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 146 census records available for the last name Purkens. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Purkens census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Purkens

Passenger Lists

There are 6 immigration records available for the last name Purkens. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Purkens immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7 military records available for the last name Purkens. For the veterans among your Purkens ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Purkens military records

You've only scratched the surface of Purkens family history

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What is the average Purkens lifespan?

Average Purkens life expectancy in 1980 was 92 years. This was higher than the general public life expectancy which was 71.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Purkens

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Purkens ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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