UK surname
A surname derived from the Old French word "purrie", meaning a small enclosure or pigsty.
In the 1881 census there were 23 people recorded with the Purry surname, ranking it #30,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 15, ranked #37,092, down from #30,339 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Glossop and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Purry is 158 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 34.8%.
1881 census count
23
Ranked #30,339
Modern count
15
2016, ranked #37,092
Peak year
1861
158 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Purry surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Purry surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 60 | #22,584 |
| 1861 | historical | 158 | #14,644 |
| 1881 | historical | 23 | #30,339 |
| 1891 | historical | 151 | #18,242 |
| 1901 | historical | 64 | #27,010 |
| 1911 | historical | 71 | #25,742 |
| 1997 | modern | 18 | #36,053 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 18 | #36,104 |
| 2001 | modern | 18 | #35,961 |
| 2002 | modern | 18 | #36,067 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 18 | #36,245 |
| 2005 | modern | 17 | #36,407 |
| 2006 | modern | 17 | #36,517 |
| 2007 | modern | 18 | #36,537 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 16 | #36,850 |
| 2010 | modern | 17 | #36,862 |
| 2011 | modern | 17 | #36,839 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2015 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2016 | modern | 15 | #37,092 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Glossop, St James Clerkenwell, Manchester and St John Hampstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Glossop | Derbyshire |
| 3 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | St John Hampstead | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Purry surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Purry, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Purry surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Purry household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Purry is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Purry is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Purry, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname PURRY has its origins in England, tracing back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "purree," which means a small, enclosed area or a small vegetable garden. The name likely originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near or worked in a small, enclosed garden or field.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the PURRY surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a William Purry is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century in the southwestern region of England.
In the 13th century, the PURRY surname appeared in various records across different counties in England, including the Hundredorum Rolls of Bedfordshire (1279), where a Richard Purry is listed. This indicates that the name had spread to other parts of the country by this time.
During the 14th century, the PURRY surname continued to be documented in various records, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire (1317), where a John Purry is mentioned. This suggests that the name had also established a presence in the northern regions of England.
One notable individual with the PURRY surname was Sir John Purry (c. 1520 - 1588), a prominent English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Middlesex in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Another historical figure with this surname was Robert Purry (1677 - 1726), an English-born merchant and politician who played a significant role in the establishment of the colony of Georgia in British North America.
In the 17th century, the PURRY surname also made its way to Scotland, as evidenced by the birth of James Purry in Aberdeenshire in 1642. This suggests that the name had spread beyond the borders of England by this time.
The PURRY surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Purry Hill in Berkshire and Purry Farm in Oxfordshire, further solidifying its historical ties to the country.
Throughout its history, the PURRY surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Purry, Purrey, Purrie, and Purrie, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in earlier times.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Purry surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 18 Purrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.02x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 18 | 8.02x |
| Surrey | 2 | 1.83x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 11.79x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 2.17x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.45x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hampstead London in Middlesex leads with 9 Purrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 257.88x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hampstead London | 9 | 257.88x |
| Islington London | 6 | 27.59x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 13.96x |
| Hammersmith London | 2 | 36.17x |
| Aldershot | 1 | 64.94x |
| Fulham London | 1 | 30.77x |
| Gwytherin | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Halifax | 1 | 30.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Purry surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Purry surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Purry households.
FAQ
In 1881, 23 people were recorded with the Purry surname. That placed it at #30,339 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 15 in 2016. That gives Purry a modern rank of #37,092.
A surname derived from the Old French word "purrie", meaning a small enclosure or pigsty.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Purry bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.