| ![Show Contents]() Purkiss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England Purkiss is one of the thousands of new names that the Norman Conquest brought to England in 1066. It is a name for a messenger or herald. Purkiss is a classic example of an English polygenetic surname, which is a surname that was developed in a number of different locations and adopted by various families independently. Early Origins of the Purkiss familyThe surname Purkiss was first found in Kent where they held a family seat from very early times, descended from a Norman noble "Perahgoz" meaning "bear-Goth"and were granted lands in Kent by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. Early History of the Purkiss familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Purkiss research. Another 233 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1190, 1497, 1498, 1575, 1626 and 1658 are included under the topic Early Purkiss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Purkiss Spelling VariationsAnglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Purchase, Purchas, Purchass, Purches, Purchis, Purkiss, Purkess, Purkis, Purkeys, Purkys, Purkes and many more. Early Notables of the Purkiss familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir William Purchas, Lord Mayor of London (1497 to 1498); and Samuel Purchas (1575?-1626), was an English cleric and travel writer. His "Purchas his Pilgrimage" was...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Purkiss Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Purkiss migration to the United States | + |
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Purkiss or a variant listed above were:
Purkiss Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Florence Purkiss, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1907
- Nellie Purkiss, aged 31, who immigrated to the United States from Kildary, Scotland, in 1909
- Alfred Purkiss, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1913
- Nellie Purkiss, aged 35, who settled in America from Ross-shire, Scotland, in 1915
- Henry Thomas Purkiss, aged 66, who settled in America from Camberwell, England, in 1916
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Purkiss 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: Purkiss Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Mr. William J Purkiss, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Rakaia" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 10th August 1881 1
| Contemporary Notables of the name Purkiss (post 1700) | + |
- Benjamin John "Ben" Purkiss (b. 1984), English footballer
- William Morton Purkiss (1844-1906), Australian politician, Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1901 to 1904
- Edwin Maurice "Eddie" Purkiss (b. 1934), Australian rugby union player
- Melanie Purkiss (b. 1979), British Commonwealth Games athlete
- Farryl Purkiss (b. 1980), South African singer-songwriter
| Historic Events for the Purkiss family | + |
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: Semper paratus
Motto Translation: Always prepared.
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Purkiss migration to the United States 
Purkiss migration to New Zealand 
