NameCensus.

UK surname

Purdon

An occupational surname derived from "pardon", referring to a pardoner or seller of indulgences.

In the 1881 census there were 549 people recorded with the Purdon surname, ranking it #6,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 562, ranked #9,130, down from #6,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Glasgow and Driffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Keppochhill and Fort William South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Purdon is 740 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.4%.

1881 census count

549

Ranked #6,284

Modern count

562

2016, ranked #9,130

Peak year

1901

740 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Purdon had 549 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 562 in 2016, ranked #9,130.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 740 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Purdon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Purdon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Purdon 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 383 #6,247
1861 historical 382 #6,698
1881 historical 549 #6,284
1891 historical 610 #6,300
1901 historical 740 #5,999
1911 historical 381 #9,635
1997 modern 531 #8,900
1998 modern 534 #9,131
1999 modern 539 #9,116
2000 modern 545 #9,017
2001 modern 526 #9,112
2002 modern 543 #9,059
2003 modern 528 #9,127
2004 modern 519 #9,257
2005 modern 533 #9,008
2006 modern 532 #9,053
2007 modern 536 #9,068
2008 modern 553 #8,924
2009 modern 564 #8,989
2010 modern 560 #9,225
2011 modern 556 #9,185
2012 modern 541 #9,294
2013 modern 547 #9,375
2014 modern 554 #9,331
2015 modern 559 #9,180
2016 modern 562 #9,130

Geography

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Where Purdons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Glasgow, Driffield, London parishes and Kilbarchan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Keppochhill, Fort William South, Bath and North East Somerset and Drumchapel North. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Glasgow Lanark
3 Driffield Yorkshire, East Riding
4 London parishes London 2
5 Kilbarchan Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 039 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Keppochhill Glasgow City
3 Fort William South Highland
4 Bath and North East Somerset 010 Bath and North East Somerset
5 Drumchapel North Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Purdon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Purdon

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Purdon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Purdon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Purdon 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

Purdon 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

Purdon falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Purdon 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 Purdon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Purdon

The surname Purdon is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "pure" and "dun," meaning "pure hill" or "clean hill." It is thought to have been a locational name, referring to someone who lived near a prominent hill with a clean or pure appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire, a census-like record from 1273. This document mentions a person named Richard de Puredone, indicating the use of the name in medieval England.

The Purdon surname appears to have been particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Shropshire in the Middle Ages. Several variations of the spelling existed, including Purdone, Pureden, and Purdun, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during that period.

In the 16th century, a notable individual bearing the Purdon name was John Purdon, a merchant from Bristol who was involved in trade with Ireland. Records show that he was born around 1520 and died in 1588.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Purdon, a military officer who served in the English Civil War. Born in 1610 in Gloucestershire, he fought on the Royalist side and was knighted for his service in 1644. He died in 1670.

In the 18th century, the Purdon name appeared in various records in Ireland, suggesting that some members of the family had migrated there. One such individual was William Purdon, a prominent lawyer and judge who was born in County Longford in 1734 and died in 1811.

The Purdon surname also has connections to the United States. In the late 18th century, Richard Purdon emigrated from Ireland to Philadelphia, where he became a respected printer and publisher. He was born in 1756 and died in 1831.

Another notable figure was John Purdon, an Irish-born military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. He was born in County Down in 1748 and fought alongside the Continental Army before his death in 1816.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Purdon surname throughout history, highlighting its origins in England and its spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Purdon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Purdon 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. Lanarkshire leads with 170 Purdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.71x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 170 9.71x
Yorkshire 122 2.27x
Renfrewshire 79 18.83x
Middlesex 31 0.57x
Surrey 25 0.95x
Lancashire 19 0.30x
Ayrshire 16 3.95x
Durham 14 0.87x
Northumberland 11 1.37x
Stirlingshire 10 5.01x
Staffordshire 7 0.38x
Hertfordshire 6 1.61x
Roxburghshire 6 6.12x
Lincolnshire 5 0.58x
Channel Islands 4 2.49x
Cheshire 4 0.33x
Sussex 4 0.44x
Cumberland 3 0.64x
Glamorgan 3 0.32x
Kent 3 0.16x
Hampshire 2 0.18x
Monmouthshire 2 0.51x
Royal Navy 2 3.10x
Argyllshire 1 0.66x
Denbighshire 1 0.49x
Devon 1 0.09x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.69x
Essex 1 0.09x
Midlothian 1 0.14x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 71 Purdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.02x.

Place Total Index
Barony 71 16.02x
Govan 43 9.93x
Sculcoates 30 35.27x
Glasgow 27 8.68x
Eastwood 18 69.66x
Great Driffield 16 145.32x
Southcoates 15 50.37x
Kilbarchan 14 109.89x
Port Glasgow 12 59.17x
Renfrew 12 86.64x
Stranton 12 22.13x
Lambeth 11 2.33x
Dalziel 10 53.08x
Maryhill 9 26.26x
Muirkirk 9 94.64x
Old Monkland 8 11.51x
Paisley Low Church 8 60.24x
Shoreditch London 8 3.41x
Broomfleet 7 1555.56x
Croydon 7 4.78x
Gorton 7 11.59x
Islington London 7 1.33x
Longbenton 7 20.52x
Skipsea 7 945.95x
Wolverhampton 7 4.98x
Paisley High Church 6 17.96x
Teviothead 6 666.67x
Alva 5 52.52x
Ellerker 5 909.09x
Everton 5 2.44x
Kirkdale 5 4.63x
Lochwinnoch 5 80.00x
Spaldington 5 909.09x
All Hallows London 4 1000.00x
Dalmellington 4 33.59x
Hotham 4 579.71x
St Peter Port 4 13.48x
Aspenden 3 260.87x
Birkenhead 3 3.15x
Bridlington 3 24.43x
Brighton 3 1.63x
Cadney 3 361.45x
Cathcart 3 13.22x
Hornsey 3 4.38x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 7.19x
North Newbald 3 247.93x
Scarborough 3 6.15x
Woolwich 3 4.40x
Baldernock 2 188.68x
Christchurch 2 16.52x
Clee With Weelsby 2 10.55x
Crosscanonby 2 12.98x
Eastrington 2 281.69x
Foggathorpe 2 952.38x
Hessle In Sculcoates 2 42.19x
Newington 2 1.00x
Portsea 2 0.92x
Ravenfield 2 625.00x
Rhyndwyclydach 2 30.58x
Rickmansworth 2 19.47x
Sherburn 2 45.35x
Walton On Hill 2 173.91x
Woodmansey Cum Beverley 2 198.02x
Abbey 1 1.56x
Beverley St Martin 1 11.17x
Bewholme Nunkeeling 1 200.00x
Broadwater 1 4.78x
Caterham 1 8.58x
Cudworth 1 51.81x
Holy Trinity 1 0.78x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 12.24x
Leeds 1 0.33x
Plymouth Charles The 1 2.01x
Royal Navy 1 1.81x
Rutherglen 1 3.89x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 0.92x
St Stephen Coleman 1 69.44x
Stewarton 1 12.47x
Wellesbourne Mountford 1 76.92x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 16
George 11
Thomas 10
David 7
Henry 6
James 6
Joseph 5
Francis 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Archd. 2
Charles 2
Edwin 2
Herbert 2
Overton 2
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Chas.M. 1
Ernist 1
Findley 1
Frances 1
Franie 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
H.Edwin 1
Harrold 1
Harry 1
Joe 1
Lydia 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Percy 1
Simon 1
Thompson 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Purdon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Purdon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 549 people were recorded with the Purdon surname. That placed it at #6,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Purdon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 562 in 2016. That gives Purdon a modern rank of #9,130.

What does the Purdon surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from "pardon", referring to a pardoner or seller of indulgences.

What does the Purdon map show?

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