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Purfield Family History

Purfield Surname Meaning

Denoting someone who lived near a field or enclosure where pear-trees grew, the term originates from Middle English per(e) + feld, or it may derive from a minor place so named.

Historical records show various instances of the name, such as Pernell Purfeld in 1350, noted in the Patent Rolls; and Philip Pirfield, a citizen and grocer of London in 1406, also found in the Patent Rolls.

Other examples include Susan Purfield, recorded in 1618 in the Parish Registers of Lenham, Kent; Edward Purfield in 1653, cited in the IGI from Hackney, Middx; and John Purfeild in 1692, documented in the IGI from Icklesham, Sussex.

Additionally, there is Hannah Perfield, mentioned around 1719 in the Parish Registers of Bridlington, ER Yorks; and Richard Porfeild, recorded in 1730 in the Parish Registers from Much Wenlock, Shrops.

Source: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, 2021


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Where is the Purfield family from?

You can see how Purfield families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Purfield family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Purfield families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 14 Purfield families living in Sussex. This was about 18% of all the recorded Purfield's in United Kingdom. Sussex had the highest population of Purfield families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Purfield 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 Purfield ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Purfield. 70% of Purfield women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Purfield | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • School Teacher
    16%
  • Household Duties (unpaid)
    16%

What Purfield family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Purfield. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Purfield census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Purfield

Passenger Lists

There are 274 immigration records available for the last name Purfield. 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 Purfield immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 211 military records available for the last name Purfield. For the veterans among your Purfield ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Purfield military records

You've only scratched the surface of Purfield family history

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What is the average Purfield lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Purfield life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1994, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Purfield in 1963 was 73, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Purfield

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Purfield 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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