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Purkes Family History

Purkes 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, Purkey, Parkes, Purves, Burkes, Purks, Turkel, Burke, Purser

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Purkes family from?

You can see how Purkes families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Purkes family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Purkes families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 12 Purkes families living in London. This was about 40% of all the recorded Purkes's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Purkes families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Purkes 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 Purkes ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Purkes. 67% of Purkes women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Purkes | 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
    67%
  • Shorthand Typist
    34%

What Purkes family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 526 census records available for the last name Purkes. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Purkes census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Purkes

Passenger Lists

There are 126 immigration records available for the last name Purkes. 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 Purkes immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 36 military records available for the last name Purkes. For the veterans among your Purkes ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Purkes military records

You've only scratched the surface of Purkes family history

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What is the average Purkes lifespan?

Between 1961 and 1994, in the United States, Purkes life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1977. The average life expectancy for Purkes in 1961 was 49, and 91 in 1994.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Purkes

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Purkes 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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