Find out how popular the last name Purser is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Purser.

Purser, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Purser surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Purser in America

Purser is the 9199th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Purser surname appeared 3,545 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Purser.

We can also compare 2010 data for Purser to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Purser

The surname Purser has its origins in the medieval English occupation of the same name, denoting a person who was responsible for carrying and distributing money and provisions on ships or within large households. The name is derived from the Old French word "poursuivant," meaning an attendant or servant.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Purser dates back to the late 13th century in Yorkshire, England. A Thomas le Purser is mentioned in the Wakefield Court Rolls of 1275. The name was also found in various spellings, such as Pursere, Pursour, and Pursoure, during this period.

In the 14th century, the surname Purser appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a John le Pursere was recorded in 1279. This record provides evidence of the occupation's significance in medieval England and the gradual transition of the title into a hereditary surname.

The Purser surname can be traced back to various locations across England, including Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire, suggesting the occupation's widespread presence in different regions. In the 16th century, William Purser (1520-1589) was a notable English churchman who served as the Dean of Lichfield Cathedral.

Another early reference to the Purser surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a landowner named Radulfus Purser is recorded as holding estates in Lincolnshire. This entry highlights the surname's association with landownership and wealth during the Norman period in England.

Among the notable individuals bearing the Purser surname throughout history are:

1. William Purser (1790-1853), an English mathematician and inventor of the Purser's Sluice, a device used in hydraulic engineering.
2. George Purser (1842-1909), an Irish mathematician and Fellow of the Royal Society.
3. John Mallet Purser (1825-1909), an Irish judge and Member of Parliament.
4. Samuel Purser (1789-1868), an English engraver and watercolor painter.
5. William Edward Purser (1858-1932), an Irish classical scholar and professor at Trinity College Dublin.

The Purser surname has a rich history rooted in medieval England, reflecting the importance of the occupation in maritime and household affairs. Its longevity and presence across various regions of England highlight the name's enduring significance throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Purser

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Purser.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Purser was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Purser has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Purser was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Purser, please contact us.

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