Purvis
English surname meaning "courtier" or "keeper of the king's door".
Name Census estimates that about 432 living Americans carry the first name Purvis. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Purvis today is around 65 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Purvis births was 1921 (27 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Purvis. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
432
~ 1 in 793,413 Americans
Peak year
1921
27 babies that year
Average age
65
years old
1996 SSA rank
#7,752
Tracked since 1900
Popularity
Purvis: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Purvis from the 1900s through to the 1990s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 184 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Purvis by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Purvis during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Purvis' live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama recorded the most babies named Purvis, while Texas, Georgia, Alabama recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 19 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Purvis
The name Purvis is of English origin, derived from the Old French surname "Purevis," which means "pure of vision" or "clear-sighted." This name can be traced back to the 12th century and was likely given to someone with exceptional eyesight or keen perception.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Purvis dates back to the 13th century, when a man named William Purevis was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, England, in 1273. This record suggests that the name was already in use as a surname during that period.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various historical documents, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, which listed a John Purevis. This indicates that the name had gained popularity and was being used across different regions of England.
One notable historical figure bearing the name Purvis was Thomas Purvis (c. 1590-1666), an English minister and author who wrote several religious works, including "Outridges Divinitie" and "The Christian Patten." He was known for his strong religious convictions and his contributions to theological literature.
Another prominent figure was John Purvis (1696-1768), a Scottish mathematician and surveyor who worked on improving surveying techniques and instruments. He was a fellow of the Royal Society and made significant contributions to the field of land surveying.
In the 19th century, Robert Purvis (1810-1898) was an American abolitionist and activist who fought against slavery and advocated for equal rights for African Americans. He was a prominent figure in the anti-slavery movement and worked closely with Frederick Douglass and other influential abolitionists.
One of the most famous individuals with the name Purvis was Melvin Purvis (1903-1960), an American law enforcement officer who gained national recognition for his role in tracking down and capturing several notorious criminals, including John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson, during the 1930s.
Lastly, Novella Purvis (1911-1995) was an American jazz singer and actress who performed in various Broadway musicals and films. She was known for her powerful vocals and her ability to captivate audiences with her stage presence.
These examples demonstrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have borne the name Purvis throughout history, highlighting its rich heritage and significance across different cultures and time periods.
People
Purvis + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Purvis as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Purvis: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Purvis?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 432 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Purvis going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 793,413 US residents.
Is Purvis a common name?
We classify Purvis as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 969 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Purvis most popular?
The single biggest year for Purvis was 1921, when 27 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Purvis is about 65 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Purvis a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Purvis in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.