Contents [hide]

Purves History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Purves History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

In Scotland, the name originates from the term "parveys" which means "at the church porch or portico of St. Paul's, where the lawyers were went to meet for consultation." 1

Early Origins of the Purves family

The surname Purves was first found in Berwickshire, "which gave name to Purveshaugh. They were vassals of the earls of March. William Purveys of Mospennoc made a grant along with Sir Archibald of Douglas to the monks of Melrose, c. 1214-1249. William Porveys of Peeblesshire rendered homage [to King Edward I of England] in 1296. As William Puruys he again appears in 1296 as witness to a charter by William de Billingham relating to lands at Fleurs, near Coldingham (Ratne). William Pourays of Berwickshire also rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II, p. 206). Alan Purvays de Ercildon witnessed a confirmation charter by Patrick, earl of March in 1318 (Dryburgh, 233), William Purwase was one of an inquest at Swinton in 1408." 1

Early History of the Purves family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Purves research. Another 207 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1427, 1438, 1453, 1474, 1485, 1547, 1548, 1562, 1590, 1603, 1639, 1699, 1734, 1743, 1753, 1754, 1755, 1756, 1776, 1795 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Purves History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Purves Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Purvis, Purves, Purvice, Purvess and others.

Early Notables of the Purves family

Notable among the family at this time was

James Purves (1734-1795), Scottish sectary, born at Blackadder, near Edington (he writes it 'Identown'), Berwickshire, on 23 Sept. 1734. His father, a shepherd, died in 1754. On 1 Dec. 1755 he was adm...

Migration of the Purves family to Ireland

Some of the Purves family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Purves migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Purves Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Alexander Purves, who arrived in America in 1700 2

Purves Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Francis Purves, aged 26, who arrived in New York in 1812 2
William Purves, aged 36, who arrived in New York in 1812 2
Andrew Purves, who landed in New York in 1825 2
John Purves, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 2
Alexander and William Purves, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1860

Purves migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Purves Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Purves, aged 24, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Frenchman"

Purves migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Purves Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Isabella Purves, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Three Bells" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th July 1858 3
Mr. James Purves, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Three Bells" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th July 1858 3
Robert Purves, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred The Great" in 1859
Mr. Adam Purves, Scottish settler travelling from Leith aboard the ship 'Melbourne' arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 18th March 1861 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Purves (post 1700) +

William Purves, American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in North Sydney, 1884
Dale Purves (b. 1938), American neurobiologist
James Purves (1734-1795), Scottish sectary, born at Blackadder, near Edington, Berwickshire
William Purves, Scottish rugby union player from 1912-1913
Sir William "Willie" Purves CBE, GBM (b. 1931), the first Group Chairman of HSBC Holdings
Della Purves (1945-2008), Scottish botanical artist
Cecil John Harry "Cec" Purves (b. 1933), Canadian politician, former mayor of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Jane Purves (1950-2013), Canadian politician and newspaper editor for the Halifax Chronicle Herald
James Hamilton Purves (b. 1947), former English cricketer
Christopher Purves, contemporary English bass-baritone
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Purves Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Clarior e Tenebris
Motto Translation: The brighter from previous obscurity.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html