Explore the Family Name Purchase
The meaning of Purchase
English (of Norman origin): perhaps an occupational name or nickname from Old French, Middle English purchas(e), purchace, porchas ‘acquisition, gain, profit’, used in a transferred sense, denoting an official responsible for obtaining the supplies required by a monastery, manor, or similar. Alternatively, from the same word with the primary senses ‘search, pursuit, effort’, possibly used for messengers and couriers.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Purchase in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Purchase has seen a slight increase from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked at 27,802, climbing marginally to a rank of 27,514 in 2010, indicating a popularity growth of 1.04%. The total count of individuals with this last name rose from 814 in 2000 to 876 in 2010, showing a 7.62% growth. However, the proportion per 100,000 people remained stable at 0.3 over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #27,802 | #27,514 | 1.04% |
| Count | 814 | 876 | 7.62% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Purchase
In terms of ethnicity, the Census data shows some shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of individuals with the surname Purchase identifying as White increased slightly from 76.17% to 77.28%, while those identifying as Black decreased from 19.66% to 16.78%. There was a significant rise in those identifying as Hispanic, jumping from 0.98% to 2.05%, an increase of 109.18%. Those identifying as belonging to two or more races also saw a substantial increase, from 2.09% to 2.97%. There were no recorded instances of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 76.17% | 77.28% | 1.46% |
| Black | 19.66% | 16.78% | -14.65% |
| Two or More Races | 2.09% | 2.97% | 42.11% |
| Hispanic | 0.98% | 2.05% | 109.18% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |