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

Pursell, 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 Pursell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pursell in America

Pursell is the 11977th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pursell surname appeared 2,608 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Pursell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pursell 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 Pursell

The surname Pursell is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from a medieval English place name, possibly related to the Old English word "purhsele," which meant a small dwelling or hut.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pursell can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from the year 1196, where a William Pursell is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in certain regions of England by the late 12th century.

Another early reference to the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1273, which lists a John Pursell as a landowner in the village of Aylesbury. This indicates that the Pursell family had gained some prominence and landholdings in the area by the 13th century.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, various spellings of the name appeared in historical records, including Purssell, Pursill, and Pursyll. These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

One notable historical figure bearing the Pursell surname was Sir John Pursell (c. 1460-1525), a wealthy merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He served as Lord Mayor of London in 1497 and was involved in various charitable endeavors during his lifetime.

Another prominent individual was Robert Pursell (1580-1644), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Barnstaple in Devon from 1638 until his death. He was a respected figure in the Church of England during the tumultuous years of the English Civil War.

In the 17th century, the Pursell family had established a presence in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, where Thomas Pursell (1625-1698) was a prominent landowner and justice of the peace in the town of Ripon.

Moving into the 18th century, we find Samuel Pursell (1720-1789), a successful merchant and ship owner based in Liverpool. He played a significant role in the city's growing maritime trade during this period.

Finally, one of the most renowned individuals with the Pursell surname was Sir William Pursell (1790-1871), a British naval officer who distinguished himself in several battles during the Napoleonic Wars. He was knighted for his bravery and rose to the rank of Admiral in the Royal Navy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pursell

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

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 Pursell 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 Pursell 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 Pursell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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