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Purton Family History

Purton Surname Meaning

From Purton (Wilts), Puriton (Somerset), and Pyrton (Oxon) to Periton (Somerset) and Perriton in Whimple (Devon), these names share a common origin.

Pirton (Herts, Worcs) and Perton (Staffs, Herefs) further exemplify this trend, all stemming from the same cultural and linguistic roots.

Additionally, Purton End in Saffron Walden (Essex) is included in this collection of names.

These place names signify the meaning of ‘pear-tree estate,’ reflecting a connection to agricultural heritage.

This thematic consistency highlights the shared history and significance of pear trees in these locations.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Purton family from?

You can see how Purton families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Purton family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Purton families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 31 Purton families living in Hertfordshire. This was about 13% of all the recorded Purton's in United Kingdom. Hertfordshire had the highest population of Purton families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Purton 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 Purton ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Wood Machinist and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Purton. 11% of Purton men worked as a Wood Machinist and 81% of Purton women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Purton were General Labourer and Private Means.

View Census Data for Purton | 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

  • Wood Machinist
    11%
  • Builders Labourer
    9%
  • Assistant Gardener
    9%
  • General Labourer
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Private Means
    3%

What Purton family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 14,000 census records available for the last name Purton. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Purton census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Purton

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Purton. 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 Purton immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 733 military records available for the last name Purton. For the veterans among your Purton ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Purton military records

You've only scratched the surface of Purton family history

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What is the average Purton lifespan?

Between 1961 and 2004, in the United States, Purton life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1986, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Purton in 1961 was 59, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Purton

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Purton 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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