NameCensus.

UK surname

Purdom

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Purdom.

In the 1881 census there were 120 people recorded with the Purdom surname, ranking it #17,756 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 217, ranked #18,535, down from #17,756 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Workington, Carlisle St Cuthbert and Hawick and Wilton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Northumberland and Craigend and Ruchazie.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Purdom is 224 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 80.8%.

1881 census count

120

Ranked #17,756

Modern count

217

2016, ranked #18,535

Peak year

2000

224 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Purdom had 120 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,756 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016, ranked #18,535.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 142 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Purdom surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Purdom surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Purdom 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 78 #19,840
1861 historical 62 #26,041
1881 historical 120 #17,756
1891 historical 136 #19,601
1901 historical 142 #18,633
1911 historical 90 #23,797
1997 modern 220 #16,607
1998 modern 213 #17,431
1999 modern 222 #17,080
2000 modern 224 #16,934
2001 modern 222 #16,806
2002 modern 208 #17,848
2003 modern 209 #17,620
2004 modern 195 #18,500
2005 modern 191 #18,707
2006 modern 192 #18,753
2007 modern 195 #18,799
2008 modern 193 #19,077
2009 modern 200 #19,028
2010 modern 202 #19,322
2011 modern 200 #19,280
2012 modern 202 #19,084
2013 modern 204 #19,276
2014 modern 213 #18,883
2015 modern 213 #18,769
2016 modern 217 #18,535

Geography

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Where Purdoms are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Workington, Carlisle St Cuthbert, Hawick and Wilton, London parishes and Westward. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Northumberland, Craigend and Ruchazie, Croydon and Central Bedfordshire. 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 Workington Cumberland
2 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
3 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
4 London parishes London 3
5 Westward Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 026 County Durham
2 Northumberland 008 Northumberland
3 Craigend and Ruchazie Glasgow City
4 Croydon 037 Croydon
5 Central Bedfordshire 019 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Purdom

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Purdom

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Purdom, 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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Purdom is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Purdom is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Purdom falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Purdom is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Purdom

The surname Purdom originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "purde" and "ham," meaning "stream" and "homestead" respectively, suggesting that the name originally referred to a homestead or settlement near a stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Purdeham." This spelling variation highlights the name's connection to a specific place or location.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, where it was written as "Purdham," and the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1332, where it was spelled "Purdam."

The Purdom surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a renowned medieval manuscript that recorded landholdings across England. This early reference provides further evidence of the name's longstanding presence in the country.

Among notable individuals with the surname Purdom throughout history are:

1. John Purdom (c. 1500 - 1557), an English priest and scholar who served as the Dean of Norwich Cathedral from 1549 until his death. 2. Richard Purdom (1629 - 1695), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucester in the late 17th century. 3. William Purdom (1751 - 1822), a Scottish merchant and plantation owner who established successful businesses in the West Indies. 4. Elizabeth Purdom (1785 - 1872), an English writer and activist who advocated for women's rights and education during the 19th century. 5. James Purdom (1892 - 1964), a Canadian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 1938 to 1944.

The surname Purdom has also been associated with various place names, such as Purdom Green in Hertfordshire, England, and Purdom Farm in Worcestershire, further emphasizing its connection to specific locations within the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Purdom families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Purdom 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. Roxburghshire leads with 41 Purdoms recorded in 1881 and an index of 193.40x.

County Total Index
Roxburghshire 41 193.40x
Cumberland 17 16.87x
Middlesex 16 1.37x
Surrey 16 2.81x
Durham 11 3.16x
Westmorland 8 31.10x
Northumberland 7 4.02x
Berwickshire 2 14.11x
Sussex 1 0.51x
Yorkshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wilton in Roxburghshire leads with 12 Purdoms recorded in 1881 and an index of 515.02x.

Place Total Index
Wilton 12 515.02x
Shoreditch London 10 19.71x
Hetton Le Hole 9 204.08x
Great Clifton 8 2051.28x
Southwark Christchurch 8 145.99x
Kirkton 7 5384.62x
Edmonton 6 63.63x
Jedburgh 6 288.46x
Croydon 5 15.80x
Eckford 5 1351.35x
Hawick 5 105.49x
Newcastle On Tyne St 5 55.37x
Walton 5 3125.00x
Cockermouth 4 188.68x
Grasmere 4 1333.33x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 4 645.16x
Castleton 3 329.67x
Lambeth 3 2.94x
Hexham 2 74.35x
Kelso 2 94.79x
Ryton Woodside 2 465.12x
Westruther 2 740.74x
Brighton 1 2.51x
Melrose 1 54.64x
Middlesbrough 1 6.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 4
Jane 4
Margaret 4
Harriet 3
Ethel 2
Alice 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Dorothy 1
Emma 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Isabella 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Margery 1
Margret 1
Marian 1
Minna 1
Miriam 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1
Thomason 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
Thomas 4
Richard 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Frederick 2
John 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Frances 1
Isaac 1
Matthew 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 Purdom households.

FAQ

Purdom surname: questions and answers

How common was the Purdom surname in 1881?

In 1881, 120 people were recorded with the Purdom surname. That placed it at #17,756 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Purdom surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016. That gives Purdom a modern rank of #18,535.

What does the Purdom surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Purdom.

What does the Purdom map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Purdom 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.