UK surname
A surname derived from a nickname referring to someone with a purse or pouch.
In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Purce surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #30,464 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Jevington, Folkington, Wilmington, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Purce is 200 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 68.2%.
1881 census count
22
Ranked #30,464
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1861
200 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Purce surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Purce surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 71 | #20,875 |
| 1861 | historical | 200 | #12,005 |
| 1881 | historical | 22 | #30,464 |
| 1891 | historical | 136 | #19,601 |
| 1901 | historical | 56 | #27,952 |
| 1911 | historical | 65 | #26,343 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 8 | #37,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 10 | #37,539 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Jevington, Folkington, Wilmington, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Toxteth Park, Eynesford and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jevington, Folkington, Wilmington | Sussex |
| 2 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | Eynesford | Kent |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Purce surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Purce, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Purce surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Purce household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Purce is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Purce is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Purce, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Purce is an English name with origins dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated in the county of Gloucestershire, England. The name is derived from the Old English words "purr" meaning a cat or feline, and "hors" meaning a horse. This combination suggests the name may have referred to someone who bred or cared for horses and cats.
One of the earliest recorded references to the Purce name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a William Purce is mentioned as a landowner. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were a census-like record of landowners and their holdings.
In the 14th century, the Purce family was well-established in the village of Purton in Wiltshire. This village name is likely related to the surname, as it derives from the Old English words "pyr" meaning a pear tree, and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement.
Notable individuals with the Purce surname include Sir Thomas Purce (1490-1557), who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of King Henry VIII. Another prominent figure was Richard Purce (1620-1691), a English Puritan minister and author who emigrated to New England in the 17th century.
In the 18th century, John Purce (1732-1811) was a renowned English clockmaker based in London. His clocks and timepieces were highly sought after by the aristocracy and wealthy classes of the time.
During the 19th century, Frederick Purce (1835-1907) was a successful businessman and industrialist who founded the Purce Ironworks in Birmingham, England. This company played a significant role in the city's industrial development during the Victorian era.
The Purce name has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Purcehill in Somerset and Purcebrook in Wiltshire, which likely derived from early settlements or landholdings of the Purce family.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Purce surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 13 Purces recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.79x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 13 | 5.79x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 1.88x |
| Channel Islands | 2 | 30.08x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 9.48x |
| Sussex | 1 | 2.64x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hammersmith London in Middlesex leads with 5 Purces recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.42x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hammersmith London | 5 | 90.42x |
| Liverpool | 4 | 24.74x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 16.61x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 29.59x |
| Hampton Wick London | 2 | 1250.00x |
| Northampton All Sts | 2 | 277.78x |
| St Peter Port | 2 | 162.60x |
| Eastbourne | 1 | 57.47x |
| St George Martyr | 1 | 263.16x |
| West Derby | 1 | 12.84x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Purce surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Purce surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Purce households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Collector to Gas company (Serv) | 1 |
| Door Porter | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Publican | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Stone Breaker | 1 |
| Stonemason | 1 |
| Wherehouseman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Purce surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Purce a modern rank of #37,967.
A surname derived from a nickname referring to someone with a purse or pouch.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Purce bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.