NameCensus.

UK surname

Purvey

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "purvey" meaning to furnish or provide supplies.

In the 1881 census there were 116 people recorded with the Purvey surname, ranking it #18,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 283, ranked #15,359, up from #18,126 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ashford, London parishes and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arun, Mole Valley and Wokingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Purvey is 349 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 144.0%.

1881 census count

116

Ranked #18,126

Modern count

283

2016, ranked #15,359

Peak year

1998

349 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Purvey had 116 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,126 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016, ranked #15,359.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 214 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Purvey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Purvey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Purvey 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 65 #21,747
1861 historical 76 #24,114
1881 historical 116 #18,126
1891 historical 160 #17,555
1901 historical 182 #16,057
1911 historical 214 #14,333
1997 modern 316 #13,080
1998 modern 349 #12,567
1999 modern 344 #12,776
2000 modern 335 #12,953
2001 modern 323 #13,083
2002 modern 323 #13,325
2003 modern 325 #13,104
2004 modern 312 #13,532
2005 modern 302 #13,788
2006 modern 297 #14,004
2007 modern 297 #14,135
2008 modern 293 #14,364
2009 modern 301 #14,386
2010 modern 300 #14,730
2011 modern 288 #15,009
2012 modern 287 #14,978
2013 modern 295 #14,918
2014 modern 302 #14,772
2015 modern 292 #15,046
2016 modern 283 #15,359

Geography

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Where Purveys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ashford, London parishes, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Arun, Mole Valley, Wokingham, Cotswold and Hilltown. 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 Ashford Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 London parishes London 2
5 Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Arun 015 Arun
2 Mole Valley 011 Mole Valley
3 Wokingham 020 Wokingham
4 Cotswold 011 Cotswold
5 Hilltown Dundee City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Purvey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Purvey

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

London Fringe

Within London, Purvey is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Purvey is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Purvey falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Purvey 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 Purvey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Purvey

The surname Purvey originated in England during the late 12th century. It is an occupational name derived from the Old French word 'purveeir', meaning 'to provide' or 'to supply'. This was likely given to someone who worked as a purveyor or supplier of goods and provisions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a Richard Purveour is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also list a John le Purveour in Oxfordshire.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms such as Purveye, Purveyor, and Purvair. It is believed that the surname may have also been influenced by the Old English word 'purvey', meaning 'to see to' or 'to make provision for'.

The Purvey surname is associated with several notable individuals throughout history. John Purvey (c. 1353 - c. 1428) was an English theologian and a follower of John Wycliffe, known for his English translation of the Bible. William Purvey (fl. 1390) was an English clergyman and scholar who collaborated with John Wycliffe on the first complete English translation of the Bible.

Other historical figures with the Purvey surname include Robert Purvey (fl. 1400), an English Lollard and one of the early followers of John Wycliffe's teachings. Thomas Purvey (fl. 1450) was an English clergyman and author who wrote a treatise on the sacraments.

The Purvey name can also be traced back to various locations in England, such as the village of Purvey in Buckinghamshire, which may have influenced the surname's spelling and pronunciation.

While the Purvey surname is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of England's rich historical tapestry, with roots dating back to the 12th century and connections to notable figures in the fields of religion, literature, and scholarship.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Purvey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Purvey 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. Sussex leads with 28 Purveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.68x.

County Total Index
Sussex 28 14.68x
Gloucestershire 26 11.72x
Surrey 23 4.17x
Lincolnshire 10 5.53x
Middlesex 6 0.53x
Staffordshire 6 1.57x
Angus 5 4.77x
Oxfordshire 5 7.16x
Essex 1 0.45x
Hampshire 1 0.43x
Kent 1 0.26x
Lanarkshire 1 0.27x
Lancashire 1 0.07x
Somerset 1 0.55x
Warwickshire 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 12 Purveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.18x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 12 31.18x
Boston 10 182.15x
Stowell 10 50000.00x
Sutton 10 250.63x
Midhurst 8 1269.84x
Bermondsey 7 20.78x
Cuckfield 6 310.88x
Wolverhampton 6 20.43x
Caversham 5 357.14x
Dundee 5 12.78x
Clifton 4 35.65x
North Cerney 4 1666.67x
Westminster St John 4 29.03x
Hazleton 3 3750.00x
Cirencester 2 66.67x
Lambeth 2 2.03x
Lindfield 2 246.91x
Barony 1 1.08x
Barrow In Furness 1 5.48x
Bedminster 1 5.84x
Camberwell 1 1.38x
Cheam 1 169.49x
Chedworth 1 312.50x
Cheltenham 1 5.84x
Eatington 1 370.37x
Eltham 1 44.25x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 1 120.48x
Godalming 1 28.82x
Islington London 1 0.91x
Kensington London 1 1.59x
Portsmouth 1 18.73x
Reigate Foreign 1 16.75x
West Ham 1 2.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Charles 9
John 8
George 6
William 6
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
James 3
Alfred 2
Ernest 2
Henry 2
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Job 1
Moreton 1
Peter 1

FAQ

Purvey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Purvey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 116 people were recorded with the Purvey surname. That placed it at #18,126 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Purvey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016. That gives Purvey a modern rank of #15,359.

What does the Purvey surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "purvey" meaning to furnish or provide supplies.

What does the Purvey map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Purvey 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.