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Purnham Family History

Purnham 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: Burnham, Turnham, Parnham, Burcham, Dunham, Farnham, Putnam, Perham

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Purnham family from?

You can see how Purnham families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Purnham family name was found in the USA in 1920. In 1920 there was 1 Purnham family living in California. This was 100% of all the recorded Purnham's in USA. California had the highest population of Purnham families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Purnham 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 Purnham family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 47 census records available for the last name Purnham. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Purnham census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Purnham

Passenger Lists

There are 7 immigration records available for the last name Purnham. 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 Purnham immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 6 military records available for the last name Purnham. For the veterans among your Purnham ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Purnham military records

You've only scratched the surface of Purnham family history

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What is the average Purnham lifespan?

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Purnham 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 Purnham

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Purnham family tree

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