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Purkett Family History

Purkett 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: Burkett, Puckett, Turkett, Perkett, Plunkett, Duckett, Burgett

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Purkett family from?

You can see how Purkett families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Purkett family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Purkett families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 5 Purkett families living in Ontario. This was about 71% of all the recorded Purkett's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Purkett families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Purkett 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 Purkett ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Saleslady were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Purkett. 27% of Purkett men worked as a Laborer and 25% of Purkett women worked as a Saleslady. Some less common occupations for Americans named Purkett were Farm Labor and Seamstress.

View Census Data for Purkett | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    27%
  • Farmer
    24%
  • Truck Driver
    11%
  • Farm Labor
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Saleslady
    25%
  • Farmer
    25%
  • Waitress
    17%
  • Seamstress
    17%

What Purkett family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 766 census records available for the last name Purkett. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Purkett census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Purkett

Passenger Lists

There are 28 immigration records available for the last name Purkett. 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 Purkett immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 119 military records available for the last name Purkett. For the veterans among your Purkett ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Purkett military records

You've only scratched the surface of Purkett family history

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What is the average Purkett lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Purkett life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1991, and highest in 1967. The average life expectancy for Purkett in 1948 was 71, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Purkett

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Purkett 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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