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Purvey Family History

Purvey Surname Meaning

reduced form of either Purves or Purver.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Purvey family from?

You can see how Purvey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Purvey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Purvey families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 41 Purvey families living in Surrey. This was about 34% of all the recorded Purvey's in United Kingdom. Surrey had the highest population of Purvey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Purvey surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Purvey ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Chauffeur and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Purvey. 20% of Purvey men worked as a Chauffeur and 91% of Purvey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Purvey were Painter decorator and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Purvey | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Chauffeur
    20%
  • General Labourer
    20%
  • House Decorator
    20%
  • Painter decorator
    20%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    91%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    4%

What Purvey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Purvey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Purvey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Purvey

Passenger Lists

There are 372 immigration records available for the last name Purvey. 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 Purvey immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 395 military records available for the last name Purvey. For the veterans among your Purvey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Purvey military records

You've only scratched the surface of Purvey family history

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What is the average Purvey lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Purvey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1987, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Purvey in 1950 was 49, and 65 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Purvey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Purvey 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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