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

Pursley, 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 Pursley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pursley in America

Pursley is the 8103rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pursley surname appeared 4,091 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 Pursley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pursley 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 Pursley

The surname Pursley is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "pers" meaning "pear" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." It is believed to have emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century, referring to individuals who lived near a pear orchard or a meadow where pear trees grew.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, which mention a Ralph de Persle. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also include a reference to a John de Perslee in Nottinghamshire.

Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Persley, Peersley, and Perslee, before settling on the modern form of Pursley. This evolution in spelling was common during the Middle Ages due to inconsistent record-keeping practices and regional dialects.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the name was Sir John Pursley (c. 1410-1478), a knight and landowner from Hertfordshire. He served as a member of Parliament for Hertfordshire during the reign of Henry VI.

Another historical figure was Richard Pursley (1592-1670), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London. He published several religious works during his lifetime.

In the 17th century, John Pursley (1620-1689) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Virginia Colony. He established a successful trading business and acquired substantial landholdings in the region.

During the American Revolutionary War, Captain William Pursley (1745-1819) served in the Continental Army and participated in several pivotal battles, including the Battle of Monmouth in 1778.

Another notable figure was Mary Pursley (1805-1890), an English philanthropist and social reformer. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and advocating for women's rights.

While the Pursley surname is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages, with various spellings and notable individuals who contributed to various aspects of society throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pursley

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

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

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

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