NameCensus.

UK surname

Purkis

A locational surname derived from the Purkis region of Germany.

In the 1881 census there were 798 people recorded with the Purkis surname, ranking it #4,665 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 641, ranked #8,262, down from #4,665 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Balsham, Eling and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Havant and Lichfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Purkis is 895 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.7%.

1881 census count

798

Ranked #4,665

Modern count

641

2016, ranked #8,262

Peak year

1901

895 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Purkis had 798 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,665 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 641 in 2016, ranked #8,262.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 895 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Purkis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Purkis surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Purkis 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 650 #4,003
1861 historical 379 #6,739
1881 historical 798 #4,665
1891 historical 700 #5,600
1901 historical 895 #5,169
1911 historical 877 #5,075
1997 modern 680 #7,410
1998 modern 727 #7,270
1999 modern 728 #7,302
2000 modern 708 #7,428
2001 modern 691 #7,443
2002 modern 702 #7,492
2003 modern 680 #7,568
2004 modern 685 #7,526
2005 modern 675 #7,556
2006 modern 648 #7,819
2007 modern 649 #7,873
2008 modern 655 #7,869
2009 modern 670 #7,900
2010 modern 683 #7,933
2011 modern 674 #7,927
2012 modern 658 #7,996
2013 modern 660 #8,117
2014 modern 653 #8,224
2015 modern 640 #8,290
2016 modern 641 #8,262

Geography

Back to top

Where Purkis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Balsham, Eling, London parishes, Hempstead and Southampton St Mary. 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, Havant, Lichfield and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Balsham Cambridgeshire
2 Eling Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Hempstead Essex
5 Southampton St Mary Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 015 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Havant 011 Havant
3 Lichfield 008 Lichfield
4 Kingston upon Hull 004 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 040 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Purkis

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Purkis

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Purkis is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Purkis is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Purkis

The surname Purkis is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be a variant of the name Purkyns, which was derived from the Old English personal name Purkyn. This name was likely a diminutive form of the Old English word "burh," meaning a fortified town or castle.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Purkis can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, dated around 1273. This document mentions a person named William Purkyns, who was likely the progenitor of the Purkis surname.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including Purkyns, Purkynns, and Purkins. These variations were likely due to the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. One notable example is John Purkys, who was recorded in the Hearth Tax Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1665.

The name Purkis may also have been influenced by the Old English word "pyrc," meaning a small enclosure or pen for animals. This could suggest a potential connection to occupations or places associated with farming or animal husbandry.

Several notable individuals throughout history have borne the surname Purkis. One of the earliest recorded was William Purkis, born in 1563 in Salisbury, Wiltshire. Another prominent figure was John Purkis, a prominent merchant and landowner in Hampshire, who lived from 1625 to 1692.

In the 19th century, there was a notable family of Purkis clockmakers and watchmakers in London. The most well-known among them was James Purkis, who was born in 1809 and established a successful business in the city.

Another notable Purkis was Sir Henry Purkis, a British diplomat and colonial administrator who served as Governor of the British Windward Islands from 1897 to 1904. He was born in 1848 and played a significant role in the development of the Caribbean colonies during his tenure.

The surname Purkis has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Purkis Farm in Oxfordshire and Purkis Hill in Wiltshire. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname or vice versa, as it was common for people to adopt surnames based on their place of origin or residence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Purkis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Purkis 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. Hampshire leads with 165 Purkis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.29x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 165 10.29x
Middlesex 144 1.84x
Essex 116 7.51x
Cambridgeshire 106 21.39x
Suffolk 63 6.61x
Surrey 63 1.65x
Kent 35 1.31x
Dorset 14 2.73x
Hertfordshire 11 2.04x
Channel Islands 9 3.88x
Lancashire 8 0.09x
Bedfordshire 7 1.73x
Lincolnshire 7 0.56x
Sussex 7 0.53x
Warwickshire 7 0.35x
Gloucestershire 6 0.39x
Herefordshire 5 1.56x
Northumberland 5 0.43x
Norfolk 4 0.33x
Somerset 4 0.32x
Durham 3 0.13x
Cornwall 2 0.23x
Devon 2 0.12x
Fife 1 0.22x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.64x
Midlothian 1 0.10x
Monmouthshire 1 0.18x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.40x
Perthshire 1 0.28x
Renfrewshire 1 0.16x
Worcestershire 1 0.10x
Yorkshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 50 Purkis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.91x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 50 15.91x
Balsham 29 1070.11x
Eling 28 172.41x
Camberwell 23 4.60x
St Pancras London 20 3.18x
Southampton St Mary 19 18.84x
Helion Bumpstead 18 865.38x
Mile End Old Town 18 14.58x
Lambeth 15 2.20x
Millbrook 15 37.14x
Islington London 14 1.85x
Stebbing 14 468.23x
Acton 12 26.17x
Great Thurlow 12 1153.85x
Dagenham 11 119.70x
Kirtling 11 500.00x
Shoreditch London 11 3.24x
Battersea 9 3.13x
St Helier 9 11.93x
Stone In Dartford 9 131.39x
Thriplow 9 725.81x
Fareham 8 41.52x
Newmarket All Sts 8 218.58x
Sutton At Hone 8 144.40x
Westminster St John 8 8.40x
Botley 7 242.21x
Chesterton 7 45.81x
St Martin In Fields 7 14.94x
Walthamstow 7 12.59x
Whitechapel London 7 9.08x
Woodford 7 40.05x
Woodham Mortimer 7 786.52x
Aston 6 1.10x
Bartlow 6 1111.11x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.77x
Beyton 6 652.17x
Borough Green 6 555.56x
Bromley London 6 3.49x
Cheltenham 6 5.07x
Gainsborough 6 20.35x
Hildersham 6 909.09x
Kingston On Thames 6 6.55x
Saffron Walden 6 36.76x
St Marylebone London 6 1.44x
Sturmere 6 600.00x
Theydon Garnon 6 169.97x
West Wratting 6 377.36x
Aldershot 5 9.31x
Deptford St Nicholas 5 23.61x
Great Sampford 5 301.20x
Haverhill 5 59.03x
Kensington London 5 1.15x
Linton 5 106.16x
Newburn 5 150.15x
Poplar London 5 3.39x
Ross 5 39.19x
Southampton All Sts 5 18.18x
St Andrewthe Less 5 8.83x
West Ham 5 1.47x
Wimborne 5 80.52x
Ashdon 4 177.78x
Beaminster 4 70.05x
Bedminster 4 3.38x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 4 22.37x
Caddington 4 67.45x
Canewdon 4 207.25x
Carisbrooke 4 17.97x
Cockfield 4 160.00x
Hornsey 4 4.04x
Little Dunmow 4 439.56x
Liverpool 4 0.71x
Mistley 4 96.39x
Newmarket St Mary 4 54.72x
Slaugham 4 93.90x
St Andrewthe Great 4 62.40x
Tottenham 4 3.21x
Walmer 4 34.48x
Bishop Stortford 3 16.66x
Clapham 3 3.07x
Eggington 3 410.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 40
Elizabeth 25
Sarah 23
Eliza 20
Emma 18
Ellen 16
Ann 15
Annie 14
Emily 12
Alice 11
Caroline 11
Edith 11
Jane 11
Kate 10
Martha 10
Charlotte 7
Rose 7
Sophia 7
Catherine 6
Florence 6
Jessie 6
Louisa 6
Susan 6
Ada 5
Fanny 5
Harriet 5
Agnes 4
Anne 4
Beatrice 3
Clara 3
Julia 3
Margret 3
Maria 3
Matilda 3
Rebecca 3
Rhoda 3
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Betsy 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Eva 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Helen 2
Laura 2
Mabel 2
Maud 2
Rosina 2
Violet 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 40
Charles 34
John 33
George 30
Henry 25
James 18
Thomas 16
Arthur 14
Walter 14
Alfred 13
Harry 12
Edward 10
Samuel 10
Frederick 9
Joseph 7
Robert 7
Ernest 5
Albert 4
Frank 4
Fredk. 4
Herbert 4
Richard 4
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Frederic 3
Geo. 3
Abraham 2
Chas. 2
Joshua 2
Moses 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Aron 1
Christopher 1
Ed. 1
Edmund 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Percy 1
Geo.W. 1
Gilbert 1
Hy.Stephen 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Jeffry 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Jonathan 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Purkis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Purkis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 798 people were recorded with the Purkis surname. That placed it at #4,665 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Purkis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 641 in 2016. That gives Purkis a modern rank of #8,262.

What does the Purkis surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the Purkis region of Germany.

What does the Purkis map show?

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