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Purdy Family History

Purdy Name Meaning

English (of Norman origin): from Old French pour Dieu ‘for God(‘s sake)’ from frequent use of this expression as an oath. See also Perdue .

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


Similar surnames: Dury, Perry, Bury, Urey, Sturdy, Jury, Ruddy, Gordy, Rudy, Purdin

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Purdy family from?

You can see how Purdy families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Purdy family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Purdy families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 378 Purdy families living in Ontario. This was about 37% of all the recorded Purdy's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Purdy families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Purdy surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Purdy ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Purdy. 43% of Purdy men worked as a Farmer and 14% of Purdy women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Purdy were Clerk and Nurse. .

View Census Data for Purdy | 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
    43%
  • Laborer
    7%
  • Carpenter
    5%
  • Clerk
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Stenographer
    14%
  • Housekeeper
    12%
  • Servant
    10%
  • Nurse
    10%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Purdy family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 156,000 census records available for the last name Purdy. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Purdy census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Purdy

Passenger Lists

There are 14,000 immigration records available for the last name Purdy. 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 Purdy immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 22,000 military records available for the last name Purdy. For the veterans among your Purdy ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Purdy military records

You've only scratched the surface of Purdy family history

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What is the average Purdy lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Purdy life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Purdy in 1943 was 39, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Purdy

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Purdy family tree

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