Find out how popular the last name Purham is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Purham.

Purham, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Purham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Purham in America

Purham is the 109758th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Purham surname appeared 161 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Purham.

We can also compare 2010 data for Purham to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Purham

The surname Purham originated in England during the late medieval period, likely emerging in the 14th or 15th century. It is thought to have derived from an Old English place name, possibly related to the village of Purham in Berkshire or a similar locality name. The root "pur" may have originated from the Old English word "pyr," meaning a small stream or brook, while "ham" was a common suffix denoting a homestead or village.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this surname was John Purham, a landowner mentioned in tax records from the village of Ashbury, Berkshire, in the year 1467. Another early reference can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1524, where a William Purham is listed as a taxpayer.

During the 16th century, the surname appears to have spread beyond its original locale, with records indicating Purhams residing in various parts of southern England. In 1587, a Robert Purham was born in the parish of St. James, Clerkenwell, London, and later became a renowned merchant and trader.

The Purham name also has a historical connection to the English Civil War period. In 1642, a Richard Purham from Buckinghamshire is recorded as serving in the Parliamentarian army under the command of Oliver Cromwell. He participated in several key battles, including the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644.

Another notable figure was Thomas Purham, born in 1673 in the village of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. He was a respected scholar and author, publishing several treatises on theology and philosophy during the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, the Purham surname gained prominence with the birth of Sir Edward Purham (1824-1901), a renowned architect who designed several iconic buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House and the Natural History Museum.

While not as common as some other English surnames, the Purham name has persisted throughout the centuries, with individuals bearing this surname making notable contributions in various fields, from military service and scholarship to architecture and commerce.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Purham

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Purham.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Purham was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Purham has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Purham was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Purham, please contact us.

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