NameCensus.

UK surname

Pursall

In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Pursall surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 216, ranked #18,613, down from #18,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kinver, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Herefordshire, Wolverhampton and Bristol.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pursall is 231 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.6%.

1881 census count

117

Ranked #18,026

Modern count

216

2016, ranked #18,613

Peak year

2010

231 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pursall had 117 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 216 in 2016, ranked #18,613.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 188 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pursall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pursall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pursall 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 136 #13,892
1861 historical 132 #16,957
1881 historical 117 #18,026
1891 historical 160 #17,555
1901 historical 170 #16,762
1911 historical 188 #15,550
1997 modern 212 #16,996
1998 modern 214 #17,366
1999 modern 217 #17,307
2000 modern 212 #17,554
2001 modern 210 #17,425
2002 modern 225 #16,994
2003 modern 215 #17,286
2004 modern 208 #17,758
2005 modern 212 #17,473
2006 modern 209 #17,784
2007 modern 207 #18,080
2008 modern 221 #17,495
2009 modern 229 #17,431
2010 modern 231 #17,711
2011 modern 225 #17,841
2012 modern 230 #17,479
2013 modern 229 #17,816
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 219 #18,406
2016 modern 216 #18,613

Geography

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Where Pursalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kinver, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, London parishes, Tettenhall and Bidstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Herefordshire, Wolverhampton and Bristol. 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 Kinver Staffordshire
2 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Tettenhall Staffordshire
5 Bidstone Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Herefordshire 005 Herefordshire, County of
2 Wolverhampton 007 Wolverhampton
3 Wolverhampton 011 Wolverhampton
4 Bristol 049 Bristol, City of
5 Wolverhampton 015 Wolverhampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pursall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pursall

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pursall 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

Pursall 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

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

1881 census detail

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Pursall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pursall 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. Warwickshire leads with 50 Pursalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.65x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 50 18.65x
Staffordshire 27 7.52x
Middlesex 8 0.75x
Shropshire 8 8.71x
Kent 5 1.38x
Sussex 4 2.23x
Worcestershire 4 2.88x
Lancashire 2 0.16x
Durham 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 29 Pursalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.28x.

Place Total Index
Aston 29 39.28x
Birmingham 20 22.38x
Kinver 11 1067.96x
Bilston 6 86.33x
Harborne 6 52.17x
Paddington London 5 12.79x
Stone In Dartford 5 537.63x
Dudley 4 23.70x
Hastings St Mary In The 4 104.71x
Wellington 4 77.52x
Kingswinford 3 23.02x
St Marylebone London 3 5.29x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 2 192.31x
Cound 1 588.24x
Edgbaston 1 12.03x
Hylton 1 178.57x
Minsterley 1 294.12x
North Meols 1 8.10x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 2.63x
West Derby 1 2.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 6
Mary 4
Ann 3
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Hannah 2
Matilda 2
Anie 1
Clara 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Kate 1
Katey 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Marie 1
Maud 1
Selina 1
Triphena 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Pursall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pursall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Pursall surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pursall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 216 in 2016. That gives Pursall a modern rank of #18,613.

What does the Pursall map show?

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