NameCensus.

UK surname

Purser

An occupational surname for a person in charge of finances and provisions on a ship.

In the 1881 census there were 1,100 people recorded with the Purser surname, ranking it #3,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,455, ranked #4,228, down from #3,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Upton with Chalvey and Tewkesbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, Bedford and Huntingdonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Purser is 1,621 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.3%.

1881 census count

1,100

Ranked #3,612

Modern count

1,455

2016, ranked #4,228

Peak year

2002

1,621 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Purser had 1,100 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,455 in 2016, ranked #4,228.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,582 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Purser surname distribution map

The map shows where the Purser surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Purser surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Purser over time

The 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 810 #3,313
1861 historical 608 #4,371
1881 historical 1,100 #3,612
1891 historical 1,161 #3,680
1901 historical 1,396 #3,602
1911 historical 1,582 #3,069
1997 modern 1,528 #3,850
1998 modern 1,601 #3,840
1999 modern 1,616 #3,835
2000 modern 1,599 #3,862
2001 modern 1,556 #3,880
2002 modern 1,621 #3,799
2003 modern 1,557 #3,868
2004 modern 1,558 #3,867
2005 modern 1,516 #3,924
2006 modern 1,498 #3,968
2007 modern 1,510 #3,977
2008 modern 1,483 #4,073
2009 modern 1,520 #4,073
2010 modern 1,532 #4,131
2011 modern 1,500 #4,157
2012 modern 1,453 #4,192
2013 modern 1,484 #4,184
2014 modern 1,511 #4,151
2015 modern 1,487 #4,171
2016 modern 1,455 #4,228

Geography

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Where Pursers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Upton with Chalvey, Tewkesbury and Cosheston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester, Bedford, Huntingdonshire, Forest of Dean and Worcester. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 Upton with Chalvey Buckinghamshire
3 Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
4 Cosheston Pembrokeshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 005 Chichester
2 Bedford 004 Bedford
3 Huntingdonshire 018 Huntingdonshire
4 Forest of Dean 007 Forest of Dean
5 Worcester 002 Worcester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Purser

These lists show first names that appear often with the Purser surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Purser

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Purser, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Purser surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Purser household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Purser is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Purser is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Purser falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Purser is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Purser, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Purser

The surname Purser has its origins in the medieval English occupation of the same name, denoting a person who was responsible for carrying and distributing money and provisions on ships or within large households. The name is derived from the Old French word "poursuivant," meaning an attendant or servant.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Purser dates back to the late 13th century in Yorkshire, England. A Thomas le Purser is mentioned in the Wakefield Court Rolls of 1275. The name was also found in various spellings, such as Pursere, Pursour, and Pursoure, during this period.

In the 14th century, the surname Purser appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a John le Pursere was recorded in 1279. This record provides evidence of the occupation's significance in medieval England and the gradual transition of the title into a hereditary surname.

The Purser surname can be traced back to various locations across England, including Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire, suggesting the occupation's widespread presence in different regions. In the 16th century, William Purser (1520-1589) was a notable English churchman who served as the Dean of Lichfield Cathedral.

Another early reference to the Purser surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a landowner named Radulfus Purser is recorded as holding estates in Lincolnshire. This entry highlights the surname's association with landownership and wealth during the Norman period in England.

Among the notable individuals bearing the Purser surname throughout history are:

1. William Purser (1790-1853), an English mathematician and inventor of the Purser's Sluice, a device used in hydraulic engineering. 2. George Purser (1842-1909), an Irish mathematician and Fellow of the Royal Society. 3. John Mallet Purser (1825-1909), an Irish judge and Member of Parliament. 4. Samuel Purser (1789-1868), an English engraver and watercolor painter. 5. William Edward Purser (1858-1932), an Irish classical scholar and professor at Trinity College Dublin.

The Purser surname has a rich history rooted in medieval England, reflecting the importance of the occupation in maritime and household affairs. Its longevity and presence across various regions of England highlight the name's enduring significance throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Purser families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Purser surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Bedfordshire leads with 202 Pursers recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.26x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 202 36.26x
Middlesex 161 1.50x
Worcestershire 88 6.26x
Gloucestershire 76 3.60x
Surrey 75 1.43x
Sussex 61 3.36x
Pembrokeshire 56 16.38x
Warwickshire 55 2.03x
Essex 46 2.17x
Northamptonshire 39 3.85x
Buckinghamshire 37 5.69x
Kent 35 0.95x
Huntingdonshire 25 11.70x
Yorkshire 14 0.13x
Leicestershire 12 1.01x
Hampshire 11 0.50x
Herefordshire 10 2.27x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.69x
Staffordshire 10 0.28x
Derbyshire 9 0.53x
Dorset 9 1.27x
Lancashire 9 0.07x
Oxfordshire 9 1.35x
Hertfordshire 7 0.94x
Shropshire 7 0.75x
Berkshire 4 0.50x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.59x
Carmarthenshire 4 0.88x
Durham 4 0.13x
Rutland 4 5.06x
Devon 2 0.09x
Wiltshire 2 0.21x
Cornwall 1 0.08x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Northumberland 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 0.78x
Somerset 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Upton Cum Chalvey in Buckinghamshire leads with 31 Pursers recorded in 1881 and an index of 119.60x.

Place Total Index
Upton Cum Chalvey 31 119.60x
Cardington 30 662.25x
Cosheston 29 1394.23x
Bedford St Paul 28 73.28x
Hackney London 25 4.14x
Clerkenwell London 23 9.06x
Pavenham 22 1366.46x
Petworth 20 184.50x
Leckhampton 18 138.46x
Tewkesbury 18 95.59x
Willington 18 1978.02x
St Pancras London 15 1.73x
Birmingham 14 1.55x
Greenwich 14 8.17x
Broadwater 13 31.24x
Croydon 13 4.47x
Stifford 13 1238.10x
Cheltenham 12 7.37x
Kempston 12 94.86x
Southwark St George Martyr 12 5.54x
Twining 12 378.55x
Blockley 11 138.54x
Eastbourne 11 13.18x
Harlington 11 558.38x
Leighton Buzzard 11 45.89x
Northampton All Sts 11 32.03x
Aston 10 1.34x
Bedford St Mary 10 69.69x
Bury 10 775.19x
Dronfield 9 41.69x
Leamington 9 50.06x
Leicester St Margaret 9 3.09x
Llanstadwell 9 80.57x
Pembroke St Mary 9 20.44x
Sherborne 9 43.27x
Warwick St Mary 9 38.20x
Biggleswade 8 43.84x
Bredon 8 166.67x
Camberwell 8 1.16x
Great Malvern 8 27.29x
Kensington London 8 1.34x
Kings Norton 8 6.35x
Limehouse London 8 6.77x
St George Hanover 8 5.70x
St Marylebone London 8 1.39x
Worcester St Peter 8 30.09x
Bromyard 7 120.48x
Cottesbrooke 7 886.08x
Lambeth 7 0.75x
Leyton 7 19.14x
Milton In Gravesend 7 12.72x
Ormesby 7 24.43x
Portsea 7 1.62x
Prittlewell 7 23.79x
Stapleton 7 17.49x
Toddington 7 87.61x
Chelsea London 6 1.85x
Dean 6 331.49x
Gildersome 6 46.80x
Ilmington 6 205.48x
Lower Mitton 6 48.47x
Oxford St Thomas 6 19.35x
Shoreditch London 6 1.29x
Spetchley 6 1016.95x
Stanstead Abbots 6 133.33x
Wandsworth 6 5.79x
Clapham 5 3.72x
Cople 5 295.86x
Denham 5 107.76x
Harrold 5 132.63x
Lewisham 5 2.55x
Mathon 5 121.36x
Northampton St Sepulchre 5 9.71x
Old Warden 5 273.22x
Quinton 5 271.74x
Shrewsbury St Mary 5 13.63x
Stapleford 5 42.44x
Tipton 5 4.50x
West Derby 5 1.34x
West Ham 5 1.07x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Purser surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Purser surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 76
George 54
John 51
James 33
Charles 30
Alfred 27
Henry 27
Thomas 24
Edward 15
Joseph 15
Frederick 14
Arthur 11
Ernest 11
Albert 10
Harry 10
Richard 9
Walter 8
Edwin 7
Frank 6
Robert 5
Herbert 4
Samuel 4
David 3
Fredrick 3
Josiah 3
Benjamin 2
Edmund 2
Elijah 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Harold 2
Hubert 2
Isaac 2
Lewis 2
Percy 2
Phillip 2
Richd. 2
Caleb 1
Christopher 1
Clement 1
Cornelius 1
Cyril 1
Ezra 1
F.W. 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Jonathan 1
Josh. 1
Wm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Purser surname: questions and answers

How common was the Purser surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,100 people were recorded with the Purser surname. That placed it at #3,612 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Purser surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,455 in 2016. That gives Purser a modern rank of #4,228.

What does the Purser surname mean?

An occupational surname for a person in charge of finances and provisions on a ship.

What does the Purser map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Purser bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.