Purser

Origin and Meaning Purser is a surname of English origin, derived from the Old French word "pursier," meaning 'officer in charge of money.' The name was likely occupational, denoting a person responsible for handling money on behalf of a noble or wealthy individual.

Distribution The surname Purser is believed to have originated in England and is primarily found in the British Isles. Over time, individuals with the surname Purser have migrated to various English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Notable Individuals

  • Roger Purser (1914-2003): British engineer known for his contributions to the field of civil engineering.
  • Rachel Purser (1869-1946): Irish artist recognised for her landscape paintings.

Coat of Arms The Purser family does not have a widely recognised coat of arms, indicating that the surname does not have a long-standing noble lineage associated with it.

Variants Variants of the surname Purser include Pusser, Pursar, and Pursor. These variations may have arisen due to phonetic changes or regional accents over the centuries.

There are approximately 2,131 people named Purser in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,982nd most common surname in Britain. Around 33 in a million people in Britain are named Purser.

Surname type: Occupational name

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Alan
  • Andrew
  • Christopher
  • David
  • John
  • Mark
  • Matthew
  • Michael
  • Richard
  • Robert
  • Stephen

Female

  • Amy
  • Carolyn
  • Claire
  • Elizabeth
  • Joanne
  • Karen
  • Margaret
  • Sarah
  • Sheila
  • Susan
  • Tracey
  • Wendy

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

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