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Purnell Family History

Purnell Surname Meaning

English: variant of Parnell.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Purnell family from?

You can see how Purnell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Purnell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Purnell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 300 Purnell families living in Gloucestershire. This was about 18% of all the recorded Purnell's in United Kingdom. Gloucestershire had the highest population of Purnell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Purnell 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 Purnell 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 Purnell. 15% of Purnell men worked as a General Labourer and 68% of Purnell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Purnell were Retired and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Purnell | 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
    15%
  • Incapacitated
    7%
  • Builders Labourer
    6%
  • Retired
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%

What Purnell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 64,000 census records available for the last name Purnell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Purnell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Purnell

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Purnell. 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 Purnell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 9,000 military records available for the last name Purnell. For the veterans among your Purnell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Purnell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Purnell family history

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What is the average Purnell lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Purnell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Purnell in 1943 was 49, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Purnell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Purnell 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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