Surname Purse - Meaning and Origin
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Purse: What does the surname Purse mean?
The last name Purse is of English origin, and is derived from the Old French word "pors," which references a personal bag or pouch. The surname was probably derived from an individual who was known for making or selling these bags.
Purse is also speculated to have been derived from the Old English word "persa," meaning "a purse carrier." This is thought to refer to someone who would carry purses, such as a servant or craftsman.
Throughout history, the Purse family name appears to have been most prevalent in the south of England, particularly in counties such as Wiltshire, Hampshire, Kent, and Essex. The earliest recorded mention of the name seems to have been that of John Purse, which appeared in the 12th century Hampshire Pipe Rolls.
The surname Purse is associated with a variety of occupations such as a shoemaker, tailor, baker, and even an innkeeper. Documents from the 18th century from Wiltshire reveal the existence of a Purse family that was involved in the textile industry.
Overall, the surname Purse can be said to be associated with craftsmanship and servitude. Although its exact origin remains a mystery, it is clear that the Purse family has been connected with England for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisPurse: Where does the name Purse come from?
The surname Purse is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in England. In the United Kingdom, the Purse family name is believed to have originated as a locational surname, derived from a region or area in which their family had lived or held land. Over the course of several centuries, the Purse family name has spread across the UK, making it most common in the Midlands, Eastern and Southern England regions.
Today, the Purse surname is encountered in England, Scotland, and Wales, with concentrations in some areas, particularly Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, and Gloucestershire. Additionally, Purse can be found in parts of the United States and Canada.
In the United States, the Purse surname is most often found in the New England states as well as Pennsylvania, Ohio, California, Texas, and Illinois, while in Canada it is most common in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. It's also recognized in Australia, New Zealand, and several other countries around the world.
The Purse surname likely originates from more than one source. It is possible that the name is derived from the French word “purse”, which means “purse” or “bag” and could reference a profession related to the making of purses centuries ago. It is also possible that the name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English “pursa”, meaning “cottage”, and that it was originally a habitational name, referring to a person from a place called Pursa.
Variations of the surname Purse
The surname Purse is an especially rare English patronymic surname, derived from the Anglo-Norman French term ‘Purs’ which literally translates as ‘Purse.’ Over time, this surname mutated and evolved into different spellings throughout the British Isles and Europe and there are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin associated with this particular surname.
Variant spellings of Purse include Pers, Purs, Purseh, Pursse, Purser, Purslers, Pussell, Pusser, Persie, Pursed, Porszewicz, Puch and Percey. Similarly, Anglicised variants of the surname include Pris, Price, Priss and Pryse.
Surnames of the same origin include Purcel, Purcell, Purslow, Purslowe, Purshouse, Purkis, Pursall, Purshutt, Pusz, Prisk, Prusak and Prockter. Alternate spellings of these surnames include Perse, Pusselle, Pursley, Percehoo, Perceil and Pursett.
As the Purse surname is a rare one, it is often conflated with other surnames of similar origin, or even confused entirely with alternate spellings and surnames, adding to the complexity of researching this lineage.
Famous people with the name Purse
- Hannah Purse (Actress)
- Garth Purse (Former Professional Footballer)
- Irene Purse (Miss USA 1966)
- Cyan Purse (Actor and Artist)
- Bart Purse (Founder & CEO of Purse.io)
- Rhiannon Purse (Voice Actor)
- Paula Purse (Chef)
- Michelle Purse (TV Star)
- Eamonn Purse (Political Analyst)
- Jackson Purse (Baseball Player)
- Lily Purse (Social Media Personality)
- Tina Purse (Interior Designer)
- Jacob Purse (Rapper)
- Lillian Purse (Model)
- Justin Purse (Musician)