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Purnby Family History

Purnby 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: Hornby, Burney, Gunby, Purdy, Turney, Putney, Furby, Gurney, Hurney

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Purnby family from?

You can see how Purnby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Purnby family name was found in Scotland in 1851. In 1851 there were 4 Purnby families living in Midlothian. This was 100% of all the recorded Purnby's in Scotland. Midlothian had the highest population of Purnby families in 1851.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Purnby 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 Purnby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9 census records available for the last name Purnby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Purnby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Purnby

Passenger Lists

There are 642 immigration records available for the last name Purnby. 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 Purnby immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Purnby. For the veterans among your Purnby ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Purnby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Purnby family history

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What is the average Purnby lifespan?

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Purnby 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.

Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Purnby

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