NOURSE
The surname Nourse is primarily of English origin and is derived from the Old French word nurice, which means “nurse” or “wet nurse”. It was originally an occupational name given to a person who cared for infants or attended the sick, and in medieval English it was also applied to a foster mother.
Records of the name date back to the 13th century. The earliest surviving spelling is that of Robertus La Norice, found in the 1273 Hundred Rolls of Bedford during the reign of King Edward I. In the 1379 Poll Tax of Yorkshire, the name appears in the forms Joan Nurys and Magota le Nuris, demonstrating that it was already in use as an occupational identifier.
In the 17th and 18th centuries the surname is recorded in London, for example Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Nurse, who was christened on 31 December 1671 at St. Giles Cripplegate, and Edward Nourse, who married Elizabeth Hutchinson on 3 May 1693 at St. Michael's Cornhill. Edward Nourse (1701–1761) practised surgery at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where he demonstrated anatomy and published some of his lectures.
The name has at times been used as a nickname for a very nurturing person. Variants have included Norse, Nurse, and Norish, reflecting the fluid spelling conventions of Middle English. Nevertheless, the modern spelling Nourse has remained stable since the 18th century.
Traditionally the surname has been most common in the United Kingdom, particularly in England, but it has spread throughout the British Isles. In Ireland it is found in small quantities, and in North and South America it is notably present in New England, New York, the Midwest, the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest. In Canada the name is most frequently encountered in Ontario. Outside of North America it has a modest presence in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, France and several South American countries, most often Brazil, Chile and Argentina.
Despite its relatively limited popularity compared with earlier centuries, the surname Nourse remains a permanent part of the genealogical landscape of many English-speaking countries, and its historical roots in care and nurturing continue to be recognised by scholars and genealogists alike.
Typical given names associated with the Nourse surname
Male
- Christopher
- David
- Douglas
- Gary
- James
- Joe
- John
- Matthew
- Michael
- Peter
- Philip
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Carol
- Charlotte
- Christine
- Clare
- Fiona
- Katherine
- Kim
- Margaret
- Melanie
- Sarah
- Susan
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
- Knorz
- Nairs
- Nares
- Naris
- Narres
- Narris
- Narse
- Narsey
- Narsi
- Naruse
- Nawras
- Nawroz
- Nawse
- Neares
- Nears
- Neers
- Neres
- Neris
- Nerris
- Nerys
- Neuris
- Neurs
- Nooris
- Noorzai
- Nore
- Norek
- Nores
- Norice
- Nories
- Noris
- Noriss
- Norke
- Noroozi
- Norouzi
- Norozi
- Norres
- Norreys
- Norrice
- Norries
- Norris
- Norrise
- Norriss
- Norrs
- Norrus
- Nors
- Norsa
- Norse
- Norsh
- Norys
- Nour
- Nouris
- Nouroozi
- Nourozi
- Nourrice
- Nowroozi
- Nowroz
- Noyrez
- Nurce
- Nurris
- Nursay
- Nurse
- Nursey
- Nursoo
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Nourse in...
Braille
⠝⠕⠥⠗⠎⠑
Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 270 people named Nourse in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around four in a million people in Britain are named Nourse.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Nourse
- Martin Nourse - Former judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales (1932 to 2017)
- Joseph Nourse - (1779 to 1824)
- John Nourse - Bookseller (1705 to 1780)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.