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Purrell Family History

Purrell 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: Burrell, Purcell, Hurrell, Pursell, Surrell, Perrell, Spurrell

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Purrell family from?

You can see how Purrell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Purrell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Purrell families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1911 there were 23 Purrell families living in Ontario. This was about 40% of all the recorded Purrell's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Purrell families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Purrell 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 Purrell ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Purrell. 27% of Purrell men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Purrell women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Purrell were Salesman and Housewife.

View Census Data for Purrell | 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.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    27%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Clerk
    14%
  • Salesman
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    50%
  • Housewife
    50%

What Purrell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Purrell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Purrell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Purrell

Passenger Lists

There are 174 immigration records available for the last name Purrell. 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 Purrell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 104 military records available for the last name Purrell. For the veterans among your Purrell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Purrell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Purrell family history

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What is the average Purrell lifespan?

Between 1983 and 2003, in the United States, Purrell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1996, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Purrell in 1983 was 70, and 89 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Purrell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Purrell 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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