NameCensus.

UK surname

Purdham

From an English place name meaning "pure valley", combining Old English elements "pure" and "dene".

In the 1881 census there were 40 people recorded with the Purdham surname, ranking it #28,011 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 229, ranked #17,878, up from #28,011 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Carlisle St Cuthbert, Workington (Workington), Clossocks and Wigan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eden, Copeland and Carlisle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Purdham is 262 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 472.5%.

1881 census count

40

Ranked #28,011

Modern count

229

2016, ranked #17,878

Peak year

1999

262 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Purdham had 40 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,011 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 229 in 2016, ranked #17,878.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 124 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Purdham surname distribution map

The map shows where the Purdham surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Purdham surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Purdham over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 12 #31,134
1861 historical 30 #30,188
1881 historical 40 #28,011
1891 historical 82 #26,494
1901 historical 120 #20,545
1911 historical 124 #20,023
1997 modern 251 #15,236
1998 modern 251 #15,631
1999 modern 262 #15,308
2000 modern 257 #15,468
2001 modern 252 #15,452
2002 modern 261 #15,369
2003 modern 255 #15,416
2004 modern 255 #15,504
2005 modern 253 #15,514
2006 modern 252 #15,642
2007 modern 247 #16,042
2008 modern 239 #16,583
2009 modern 249 #16,466
2010 modern 241 #17,186
2011 modern 228 #17,673
2012 modern 233 #17,339
2013 modern 234 #17,556
2014 modern 242 #17,285
2015 modern 235 #17,530
2016 modern 229 #17,878

Geography

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Where Purdhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Carlisle St Cuthbert, Workington (Workington), Clossocks, Wigan, Burgh-on-the-Sands and Dalston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eden, Copeland and Carlisle. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
2 Workington (Workington), Clossocks Cumberland
3 Wigan Lancashire
4 Burgh-on-the-Sands Cumberland
5 Dalston Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eden 004 Eden
2 Copeland 007 Copeland
3 Carlisle 013 Carlisle
4 Eden 001 Eden
5 Eden 002 Eden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Purdham

These lists show first names that appear often with the Purdham surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Purdham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Purdham, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Purdham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Purdham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Purdham is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Purdham is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Purdham falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Purdham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Purdham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Purdham

The surname Purdham has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "pord" and "ham," meaning "a town by a pool or small body of water." This suggests that the name likely originated in a rural area or village located near a pond or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Purdham can be found in the Parish Records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, where a John Purdham was mentioned in 1592. The name also appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Stretton, Derbyshire, in 1612, referencing a William Purdham.

The Purdham surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Purdhame in Cheshire and Purdhame Green in Lancashire. These locations may have been the original homesteads of families bearing the name, contributing to its widespread use.

Notable individuals with the surname Purdham include Thomas Purdham (1634-1701), an English clergyman and author who published several religious works. Another prominent figure was Sir William Purdham (1753-1823), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became the Lieutenant Governor of Portsmouth.

In the 19th century, the name appeared in various records, such as the birth of James Purdham in Lincolnshire in 1832 and the marriage of Mary Purdham to John Smith in Nottinghamshire in 1856. Additionally, the 1881 Census of England and Wales listed several Purdham families residing in various counties, including Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire.

Other notable individuals bearing the Purdham name include Robert Purdham (1872-1948), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, and Elizabeth Purdham (1901-1987), a renowned artist and sculptor whose works were exhibited in galleries across Europe.

While the Purdham surname may not be as widespread as some other English surnames, it holds a rich history and can be traced back several centuries, with roots deeply embedded in the rural landscapes and communities of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Purdham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Purdham surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 17 Purdhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.67x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 17 3.67x
Cumberland 15 44.67x
Northumberland 7 12.06x
Westmorland 1 11.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigan in Lancashire leads with 8 Purdhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 123.65x.

Place Total Index
Wigan 8 123.65x
Dalston 6 2307.69x
Hexham 6 666.67x
Tockholes 5 7142.86x
Droylsden 4 264.90x
Westward 4 2857.14x
Burgh By Sands 3 2727.27x
Appleby St Michael 1 526.32x
Bowness Drumburg 1 2000.00x
Corbridge 1 476.19x
Low Bolton 1 1111.11x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Purdham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 4
Isabella 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Betsy 1
Dorothy 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Hannah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Purdham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 4
David 2
Thomas 2
William 2
Aarn 1
Adam 1
George 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Purdham households.

FAQ

Purdham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Purdham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 40 people were recorded with the Purdham surname. That placed it at #28,011 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Purdham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 229 in 2016. That gives Purdham a modern rank of #17,878.

What does the Purdham surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "pure valley", combining Old English elements "pure" and "dene".

What does the Purdham map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Purdham bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.