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Purnell Family History

Purnell Name Meaning

English: variant of Parnell .

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


Similar surnames: Pernell, Parnell, Durnell, Purtell, Pursell, Pennell, Pannell

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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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 1911 there were 16 Purnell families living in Ontario. This was about 35% of all the recorded Purnell's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Purnell families in 1911.
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.

What did your Purnell ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Operator were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Purnell. 70% of Purnell men worked as a Farmer and 50% of Purnell women worked as an Operator. Some less common occupations for Americans named Purnell were Clerk and Farmer. .

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 1921

  • Farmer
    70%
  • Electrician
    16%
  • Clerk
    16%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Operator
    50%
  • Farmer
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

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 Canadian 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 Canada, 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

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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

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