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Purdy Family History

Purdy Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin): from Old French pour Dieu ‘for God(‘s sake)’ from frequent use of this expression as an oath.

See also Perdue.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Purdy family from?

You can see how Purdy families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Purdy family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Purdy families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 274 Purdy families living in London. This was about 15% of all the recorded Purdy's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Purdy families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Purdy 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 Purdy ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Purdy. 14% of Purdy men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Purdy women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Purdy were Builders Labourer and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Purdy | 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

  • General Labourer
    14%
  • Bricklayer
    6%
  • Colliery Hewer
    5%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%
  • Domestic Servant
    2%

What Purdy family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 156,000 census records available for the last name Purdy. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Purdy census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Purdy

Passenger Lists

There are 14,000 immigration records available for the last name Purdy. 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 Purdy immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 22,000 military records available for the last name Purdy. For the veterans among your Purdy ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Purdy military records

You've only scratched the surface of Purdy family history

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What is the average Purdy lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Purdy life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Purdy in 1943 was 39, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Purdy

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Purdy 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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