NameCensus.

UK surname

Purkiss

An English surname derived from a place name in Gloucestershire, possibly from "purcas" meaning "little park".

In the 1881 census there were 707 people recorded with the Purkiss surname, ranking it #5,139 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,144, ranked #5,154, down from #5,139 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eling, South Stoneham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eastleigh, Central Bedfordshire and Uttlesford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Purkiss is 1,337 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.8%.

1881 census count

707

Ranked #5,139

Modern count

1,144

2016, ranked #5,154

Peak year

1998

1,337 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Purkiss had 707 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,139 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,144 in 2016, ranked #5,154.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,147 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Purkiss surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Purkiss surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Purkiss 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 328 #7,098
1861 historical 275 #9,082
1881 historical 707 #5,139
1891 historical 774 #5,182
1901 historical 1,088 #4,439
1911 historical 1,147 #4,072
1997 modern 1,280 #4,457
1998 modern 1,337 #4,444
1999 modern 1,330 #4,499
2000 modern 1,314 #4,528
2001 modern 1,272 #4,568
2002 modern 1,295 #4,592
2003 modern 1,255 #4,628
2004 modern 1,232 #4,696
2005 modern 1,197 #4,765
2006 modern 1,198 #4,778
2007 modern 1,182 #4,871
2008 modern 1,188 #4,876
2009 modern 1,199 #4,944
2010 modern 1,203 #5,033
2011 modern 1,179 #5,062
2012 modern 1,161 #5,045
2013 modern 1,176 #5,084
2014 modern 1,173 #5,119
2015 modern 1,149 #5,159
2016 modern 1,144 #5,154

Geography

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Where Purkiss' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eling, South Stoneham, London parishes, Hempstead and Toppesfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eastleigh, Central Bedfordshire, Uttlesford and Fareham. 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 Eling Hampshire
2 South Stoneham Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Hempstead Essex
5 Toppesfield Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eastleigh 006 Eastleigh
2 Central Bedfordshire 005 Central Bedfordshire
3 Eastleigh 005 Eastleigh
4 Uttlesford 002 Uttlesford
5 Fareham 001 Fareham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Purkiss

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Purkiss

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Purkiss, 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 Purkiss surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Purkiss 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, Purkiss 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

Purkiss 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

Purkiss 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 Purkiss is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Purkiss

The surname Purkiss is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Middle English word "purker," which referred to a maker or seller of pork. The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1195, where it appears as "Purchers."

Over time, the name evolved into various forms such as Purkas, Purkes, and eventually Purkiss. It is thought to have originated in the counties of Hampshire and Wiltshire, where the pork trade was prevalent during the Middle Ages. Some genealogists suggest that the name may also be related to the Old French word "porchier," which means a swineherd or pig farmer.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several references to individuals with the occupation of "porcarius," which translates to "swineherd" or "pig keeper." While these entries do not directly mention the Purkiss surname, they provide insight into the occupations and trades that likely gave rise to such surnames.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Purkiss name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, where a John Purkis is listed. In the 14th century, a Richard Purkas is mentioned in the Charters of the Priory of Coldstream, dated 1357.

Notable individuals with the surname Purkiss throughout history include: 1. James Purkiss (1639-1711), an English mathematician and astronomer. 2. William Purkiss (1753-1827), a British soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. 3. Elizabeth Purkiss (1792-1865), an English author and poet. 4. Sir Henry Purkiss (1818-1897), a British politician and member of Parliament. 5. John Purkiss (1866-1944), an English cricket player who represented Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.

The Purkiss surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Purkiss Farm in Wiltshire and Purkiss Lane in Hampshire, further reinforcing its connection to the region's history and geography.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Purkiss families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Purkiss 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. Essex leads with 230 Purkiss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.80x.

County Total Index
Essex 230 16.80x
Middlesex 151 2.18x
Hampshire 90 6.33x
Surrey 75 2.22x
Cambridgeshire 39 8.88x
Suffolk 28 3.31x
Kent 27 1.14x
Lancashire 17 0.21x
Yorkshire 9 0.13x
Bedfordshire 7 1.95x
Derbyshire 7 0.64x
Channel Islands 6 2.92x
Northumberland 5 0.48x
Dorset 4 0.88x
Somerset 3 0.27x
Sussex 3 0.26x
Denbighshire 2 0.76x
Cornwall 1 0.13x
Devon 1 0.07x
Hertfordshire 1 0.21x
Lincolnshire 1 0.09x
Norfolk 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 1.21x
Warwickshire 1 0.06x
Wigtownshire 1 1.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hempstead in Essex leads with 39 Purkiss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2600.00x.

Place Total Index
Hempstead 39 2600.00x
Toppesfield 29 1421.57x
Bow London 22 24.92x
Portsea 19 6.82x
West Ham 19 6.29x
Croydon 17 9.06x
St George Hanover 17 18.78x
Ardleigh 14 368.42x
Islington London 14 2.08x
Lyndhurst 14 359.90x
South Stoneham 14 45.40x
Theydon Bois 13 625.00x
Shoreditch London 12 3.99x
Bermondsey 11 5.33x
Chigwell 10 77.40x
Millbrook 10 27.93x
Newington 10 3.90x
St Marylebone London 10 2.70x
Freshwater 9 138.46x
Hackney London 9 2.31x
Horseheath 9 697.67x
Runwell 9 1125.00x
Bradfield St George 8 761.90x
Deptford St Paul 8 4.38x
Great Dunmow 8 112.20x
Great Wilbraham 8 615.38x
Mile End Old Town 8 7.31x
Aldershot 7 14.70x
Bromley London 7 4.59x
Chadwell St Mary 7 500.00x
Kensington London 7 1.82x
Lambeth 7 1.16x
Lewisham 7 5.55x
Nether Hallam 7 7.53x
Weston Colville 7 560.00x
Woodford St Mary 7 451.61x
Barnes 6 41.99x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.99x
Camberwell 6 1.35x
St Pancras London 6 1.07x
Woodford 6 38.71x
Acton 5 12.30x
Akenham 5 1851.85x
Alverstoke 5 9.72x
Battersea 5 1.96x
Corringham 5 485.44x
Derby St Werburgh 5 7.97x
Manchester 5 1.35x
Pampisford 5 602.41x
Sawston 5 117.92x
Shenfield 5 140.85x
St John 5 127.55x
Wetherden 5 423.73x
Great Welnetham 4 380.95x
Harlow 4 67.80x
Limehouse London 4 5.25x
Little Sampford 4 493.83x
South Weald 4 34.10x
St Clement Danes 4 35.62x
Thaxted 4 88.11x
Walthamstow 4 8.12x
West Derby 4 1.66x
Wrestlingworth 4 259.74x
Braintree 3 24.41x
Chester All Sts 3 272.73x
Clapham 3 3.46x
Colchester St James 3 54.05x
East Hanningfield 3 312.50x
Elswick 3 3.64x
Leyton Low 3 10.78x
Livesey 3 20.78x
Maldon St Peter 3 42.98x
Poplar London 3 2.29x
Shaftesbury Holy Trinity 3 127.66x
Sible Hedingham 3 65.65x
Southampton St Mary 3 3.36x
St Martin In Fields 3 7.23x
Tonbridge 3 3.51x
Wilpshire 3 454.55x
Yeldon 3 517.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 47
Charles 29
John 29
George 26
Thomas 19
Arthur 18
James 17
Henry 13
Alfred 12
Harry 11
Edward 10
Frederick 7
Richard 7
Samuel 5
Walter 5
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Joseph 4
Albert 3
Daniel 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Joshua 3
Robert 3
Amos 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Francis 2
Fredk 2
Infant 2
Moses 2
Adolphus 1
Alma 1
Benjann 1
Bertie 1
Charl 1
Charlotte 1
Dennis 1
Earnest 1
Ebnezor 1
Edword 1
Elias 1
Elijah 1
Freddy 1
Hubert 1
Jacob 1
Jeremiah 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Purkiss surname: questions and answers

How common was the Purkiss surname in 1881?

In 1881, 707 people were recorded with the Purkiss surname. That placed it at #5,139 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Purkiss surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,144 in 2016. That gives Purkiss a modern rank of #5,154.

What does the Purkiss surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name in Gloucestershire, possibly from "purcas" meaning "little park".

What does the Purkiss map show?

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