Surname Purinton - Meaning and Origin
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Purinton: What does the surname Purinton mean?
The surname Purinton is of English origin and is believed to be a habitational name, derived from a place name. Similar to many other British surnames, Purinton likely refers to a geographical locality, "Purinton" being a parish in the county Somerset, England. The exact meaning of the name is not known, but the -ton ending is commonly seen in English surnames and usually denotes a settlement or town. The first part, "Purin-" could be of various derivations and is harder to decipher without specific historical reference. It's important to note that last names could have been given based on a landmark, an occupation, nickname or even the name of a person's father. The variety of sources for surnames in England was vast, hence the diversity seen today. Overall, the surname Purinton is a reflection of one's ancestral roots tied back to a specific geographical area in England.
Order DNA origin analysisPurinton: Where does the name Purinton come from?
The Purinton surname is most common today in the United States and Canada. It is an English surname, likely having been brought to the Americas during the early colonization period. In the United States, it is most often found in the New England region. In Canada, it is most frequently found in the Greater Toronto Area, followed by Alberta and Manitoba.
According to the US Census Bureau, there are around 2000 individuals in the United States currently bearing the Purinton name. The number of individuals with the Purinton name in Canada is around 300. Most of these individuals are concentrated in the major metropolitan cities of both countries.
The Purinton surname, while not particularly uncommon, is also not overly common. It apparently does not have a single point of ancestral origin as there are several different variations of the spelling of the name, such as Purintin, Purrinton, Purretin, and Purattin.
Interestingly, there is evidence of at least seven different Purinton families living in Massachusetts alone during the late 17th century. It is likely that they were all somehow related and that the Purinton name was carried forward through the generations until the present day.
Variations of the surname Purinton
There are a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Purinton. Some of the common variants include Puritan, Pursen, Purington, Purynton, Pironon, Piriton, Printon, and Pringon.
Puritan, the Americanized spelling of the name, is derived from the French Puritain, meaning "pure" or "religious." This spelling of the name may have originally been a registered name indicating individuals of a religious faith. The spelling of Pursen or Pursin is found in some countries of Europe. It is derived from an old French nickname, which could refer to a boy or a man who wore purser pants.
Purington is an English and American surname. This variant is derived from an occupational name, making it likely that individuals with this surname were descended from a trader or purveyor of goods.
Purynton is a variation of Purington and there are records of this surname being used as early as the 17th century in Yorkshire, England. Pironon and Piriton, are surnames also derived from an occupational name; likely referring to those that worked with iron or pewter.
Printon and Pringon are also derived from occupational names and may have originated from the Old French word prins, meaning "skilled worker."
The surname Purinton is of French origin, being derived from Puritain (pure) and ultimately from the Latin pure meaning, "pure." Various spellings and variants of the surname Purinton include Puritan, Pursen, Purington, Purynton, Pironon, Piriton, Printon, and Pringon. All of these surnames are likely to refer to individuals of a religious faith or as occupational names relating to trade or work with metals.
Famous people with the name Purinton
- Neil Purinton: Neil is an independent film maker and screenwriter based in Los Angeles. He has written and directed several films including the TV movie "Pilot Season" and the feature film "The Devil's On The Other Side", both of which have enjoyed critical acclaim.
- Lisa Purinton: Lisa is a former American competitive figure skater, who competed in the 1985 World Championships, where she placed 9th. She is currently an active coach and choreographer in the skating world.
- Paul Purinton: Paul is an anthropologist and explorer, best known for his work in the Himalayan mountain region. He is a well known speaker and writer, having written several books and articles on his research in this area.
- Harvey Purinton: Harvey is a former basketball player, having played for the University of Cincinnati and the Denver Nuggets. He currently works as a basketball analyst, and is also the head coach of the Tulsa 66ers, a minor league basketball team.
- Rob Purinton: Rob is a technology entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder and CEO of Cyborg LED, a company dedicated to developing and selling future-proof LED lighting solutions.