Purse Family History

Purse Surname Meaning

English and Scottish: from Middle English purs(e) (Old English purs) ‘bag sack or pouch’ often specifically ‘money bag purse wallet’ also ‘(royal) treasury the privy purse’ and colloquially a term for the scrotum.

Perhaps an occupational name short for pursmaister ‘keeper of the purse’ purser or pursmakere (see Purser) or a nickname for someone who was mean or generous with money or who displayed his purse in an ostentatious manner.

English: variant of Pierce.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022

Similar surnames: Purser, Burse, Furse, Eure, Hurst, Porte, Hulse, Nurse, Puls, Busse

14K	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
2K	Military Records
2K	Immigration Records
12K	Census and Voter Lists
16K	Member Trees

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Where is the Purse family from?

You can see how Purse families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Purse family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Purse families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 81 Purse families living in Hampshire. This was about 21% of all the recorded Purse's in United Kingdom. Hampshire had the highest population of Purse families in 1891.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Purse surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Purse

What did your Purse ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General labourer and Unpaid domestic duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Purse. 29% of Purse men worked as a General labourer and 80% of Purse women worked as an Unpaid domestic duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Purse were Builders labourer and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Purse

Data not to scale

We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

General labourer

29%

Gardener

10%

Motor mechanic

10%

Builders labourer

10%

Unpaid domestic duties

80%

Unpaid domestic

Housewife

Housekeeper

What Purse family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 12K census records available for the last name Purse. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Purse census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Purse

Passenger List

There are 2K immigration records available for the last name Purse. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Purse immigration records

Military Records

There are 2K military records available for the last name Purse. For the veterans among your Purse ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Purse military records

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What is the average Purse lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Purse life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Purse in 1953 was 47, and 71 in 2004.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Purse family tree

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Purse Surname Meaning

English: variant of Pierce.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022

Where is the Purse family from?

What did your Purse ancestors do for a living?

Data not to scale

We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

General labourer

29%

Gardener

10%

Motor mechanic

10%

Builders labourer

10%

Unpaid domestic duties

80%

Unpaid domestic

Housewife

Housekeeper

What Purse family records will you find?

What is the average Purse lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Purse life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Purse in 1953 was 47, and 71 in 2004.

Purse Family History

Purse Surname Meaning

48,000 record(s) for Purse

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Purse family from?

What did your Purse ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Purse family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Purse family history

What is the average Purse lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Purse family tree

Search for another surname

Purse Surname Meaning

48,000 record(s) for Purse

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Purse family from?

What did your Purse ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Purse family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Purse family history

What is the average Purse lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Purse family tree

Search for another surname