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Purchase Family History

Purchase Name Meaning

English (of Norman origin): perhaps an occupational name or nickname from Old French Middle English purchas(e) purchace porchas ‘acquisition gain profit’ used in a transferred sense denoting an official responsible for obtaining the supplies required by a monastery manor or similar. Alternatively from the same word with the primary senses ‘search pursuit effort’ possibly used for messengers and couriers.

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

Similar surnames: Chase, Purvis, Purse, Burcham, Porche, Burchard, Lucas, Turnham

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Where is the Purchase family from?

You can see how Purchase families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Purchase family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Purchase families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 31 Purchase families living in Ontario. This was about 54% of all the recorded Purchase's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Purchase families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Purchase surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Purchase

What Purchase family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 18,000 census records available for the last name Purchase. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Purchase census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search Canadian census records for Purchase
Passenger Lists
There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Purchase. 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 Purchase immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Purchase. For the veterans among your Purchase ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Purchase military records

Census Records

There are 18,000 census records available for the last name Purchase. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Purchase census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Purchase

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Purchase. 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 Purchase immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Purchase. For the veterans among your Purchase ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Purchase military records

You've only scratched the surface of Purchase family history

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What is the average Purchase lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Purchase life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Purchase in 1959 was 46, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Purchase

Browse profiles of historical people with the Purchase last name

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