Purl History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Purl family

The surname Purl was first found in Oxfordshire at Oseney, where in year 1259 Henry and Reginald Perle were listed as holding lands at that time. The name is derived from the Middle English and Old French word "perle," meaning "pearl," one who sells pearls. 1

Thomas Perle was found in the Close Rolls of 1343. 2 3 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included a listing for Egidias and Richard Perles, but no counties were listed.

And one source postulates that the name could be Norman French as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae records John and Tustin Peril or Perol in Normandy in 1198. 4

Early History of the Purl family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Purl research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1316, 1388, 1394, 1402, 1406, 1422, 1423, 1428, 1455, 1487, 1808, 1842, 1845, 1856, 1858 and 1886 are included under the topic Early Purl History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Purl Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Perle, Pearl, Pearle, Pear, Parl, Perl, Purl, Purle, Pearlman, Perlman and many more.

Early Notables of the Purl family

Distinguished members of the family include John Perle (died 1402), of Dorchester, Dorset, an English politician, Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Dorchester in February 1388 and for Dorset in 1394. Another John Perle (died 1428), of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, was an English politician. He was Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Shrewsbury in 1406, 1422 and 1423.Cora Pearl (1842-1886), the English courtesan assumed the name Pearl. She was born Emma Elizabeth Crouch at Caroline Place, East Stonehouse, Devonshire, on 23 Feb. 1842. "She was the daughter of Frederick William Nicholls Crouch, by his wife, Lydia Pearson, a...
Another 123 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Purl Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Purl migration to Australia +

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

Purl Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Martha Purl, (Pearl), (b. 1784), aged 19, British Convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years for burglary, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1859 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Purl (post 1700) +

George Clark Purl, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 1928, 1940 (alternate)
Linda Purl (b. 1955), American actress and singer, best known for her role as Charlene Matlock, Ben Matlock's daughter in the first season of Matlock

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment