NameCensus.

UK surname

Purkins

An English surname possibly derived from local place names or denoting someone from a small dwelling.

In the 1881 census there were 82 people recorded with the Purkins surname, ranking it #21,957 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 109, ranked #29,402, down from #21,957 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Purkins is 152 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.9%.

1881 census count

82

Ranked #21,957

Modern count

109

2016, ranked #29,402

Peak year

1911

152 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Purkins had 82 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,957 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016, ranked #29,402.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 152 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Purkins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Purkins surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Purkins 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 34 #27,194
1861 historical 102 #20,797
1881 historical 82 #21,957
1891 historical 136 #19,601
1901 historical 53 #28,271
1911 historical 152 #17,712
1997 modern 102 #26,638
1998 modern 101 #27,479
1999 modern 104 #27,164
2000 modern 96 #28,299
2001 modern 90 #28,793
2002 modern 92 #29,040
2003 modern 87 #29,615
2004 modern 89 #29,623
2005 modern 88 #29,831
2006 modern 97 #28,793
2007 modern 90 #30,228
2008 modern 89 #30,713
2009 modern 91 #30,944
2010 modern 89 #31,745
2011 modern 89 #31,659
2012 modern 91 #31,659
2013 modern 99 #30,934
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 104 #30,269
2016 modern 109 #29,402

Geography

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Where Purkins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, St Marylebone and Toppesfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Toppesfield Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gateshead 004 Gateshead
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 027 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Newcastle upon Tyne 021 Newcastle upon Tyne
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 025 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 Newcastle upon Tyne 016 Newcastle upon Tyne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Purkins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Purkins

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Purkins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Purkins household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Purkins is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Purkins is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Purkins 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 Purkins 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 Purkins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Purkins

The surname Purkins has its origins in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the late 16th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "pyrige," which referred to a small enclosed plot of land or a vegetable garden. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname given to someone who worked as a gardener or a cultivator of small plots of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Purkins can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London, where the baptism of a child named John Purkins was recorded in 1587. Additionally, the surname appears in the court records of the County of Kent in 1602, where a certain Thomas Purkins was listed as a defendant in a legal case.

During the 17th century, the name Purkins began to spread across various regions of England, with records indicating families bearing this surname residing in counties such as Essex, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire. One notable individual from this period was William Purkins, a merchant and landowner born in 1625 in the town of Colchester, Essex. He was known for his involvement in the local wool trade and his philanthropic efforts in supporting the construction of a new church in his hometown.

In the 18th century, the surname Purkins continued to be prominent in parts of southern and eastern England. One noteworthy figure was Samuel Purkins, a respected lawyer and judge who lived from 1712 to 1786. He served as a magistrate in the city of Norwich and was renowned for his fair and impartial rulings.

As the 19th century dawned, the Purkins family had established a presence in various parts of the United Kingdom. One significant individual was Mary Purkins, born in 1823 in the village of Bexhill, East Sussex. She became a renowned author and poet, publishing several collections of poetry that celebrated the beauty of the English countryside.

Another prominent figure bearing the Purkins surname was George Purkins, a celebrated architect who lived from 1841 to 1912. He was responsible for designing several iconic buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House and the Bank of England's main offices.

Throughout its history, the surname Purkins has been associated with various professions and endeavors, from agriculture and trade to law, literature, and architecture. While the name may have originated as an occupational surname related to gardening, it has since evolved to encompass a diverse range of individuals and their contributions to society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Purkins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Purkins 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. Surrey leads with 22 Purkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.58x.

County Total Index
Surrey 22 5.58x
Essex 19 11.89x
Middlesex 17 2.10x
Cambridgeshire 8 15.60x
Hampshire 4 2.41x
Suffolk 4 4.06x
Northumberland 3 2.49x
Buckinghamshire 1 2.04x
Leicestershire 1 1.11x
Monmouthshire 1 1.71x
Norfolk 1 0.80x
Royal Navy 1 10.36x
Somerset 1 0.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pampisford in Cambridgeshire leads with 8 Purkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8000.00x.

Place Total Index
Pampisford 8 8000.00x
West Ham 8 22.68x
Fryerning 7 3500.00x
Lambeth 7 9.92x
Rotherhithe 7 70.00x
St Marylebone London 6 13.88x
Whitechapel London 5 62.66x
Elswick 3 31.22x
Acton 2 42.11x
Clapham 2 19.76x
Finchingfield 2 400.00x
Gislingham 2 1333.33x
Meon Stoke 2 1538.46x
Newington 2 6.69x
Portsea 2 6.15x
St George Hanover 2 18.92x
Ashdon 1 434.78x
Bath St James 1 73.53x
Beddington 1 65.36x
Braintree 1 69.93x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 38.02x
Cockfield 1 384.62x
East Claydon 1 1111.11x
Islington London 1 1.27x
Keyham 1 1250.00x
Kingston On Thames 1 10.55x
Risca 1 90.91x
Royal Navy 1 12.12x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 6.14x
St George Bloomsbury 1 21.55x
Swaffham 1 99.01x
Woking 1 42.02x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Purkins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Purkins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 82 people were recorded with the Purkins surname. That placed it at #21,957 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Purkins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016. That gives Purkins a modern rank of #29,402.

What does the Purkins surname mean?

An English surname possibly derived from local place names or denoting someone from a small dwelling.

What does the Purkins map show?

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