Explore the Family Name Purviance
The meaning of Purviance
French and Irish (of Norman and Scottish origin): nickname from Anglo-Norman French purveiance ‘foresight, providence, wisdom’, also ‘provision of royal or monastic household supplies’ (compare Purvis). The surname Purveyance has apparently died out in Scotland, where it is recorded in Glasgow in 1505 and Ayr in 1623. In the form Purviance it was brought to North America from Ireland, where it came from France. The name Purviance is virtually non-existing in France. In the US, it is also found among African Americans. Compare Provine and Purvines, and also Provance. History: The majority of the Purviances trace their origin to Jon De Purvaiance born c.1590 in Royan, Charente-Maritime, France (he was, according to various sources, of Scottish ancestry), whose son (or grandson) Jacques (De) Purv(a)iance fled with his family from France to Donegal, Ireland, where he died c.1697. This Jacques Purviance is listed in the (US) National Huguenot Society’s register of qualified Huguenot ancestors. It were one of his sons, two of his grandsons, and four of his great grandsons who emigrated from Ireland to North America in the 17th and 18th centuries; their descendants also bear altered forms of the surname, such as Provine and Purvines.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Purviance in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Purviance has seen a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Purviance was the 29,570th most common surname, with 752 individuals carrying the name. By 2010, it had dropped to the 31,285th rank, with 741 people bearing the surname. This represents a 5.8% decrease in rank and a 1.46% decrease in count, indicating that fewer people carried the Purviance surname by 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #29,570 | #31,285 | -5.8% |
| Count | 752 | 741 | -1.46% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.28 | 0.25 | -10.71% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Purviance
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates some shifts over a decade for those with the surname Purviance. The majority identified as white, with 89.89% in 2000 and slightly less at 87.72% in 2010. Those identifying as Black saw an increase from 3.99% in 2000 to 5.94% in 2010. The proportion of individuals identifying as Hispanic modestly increased from 1.73% to 1.89%. However, those who identified with two or more races declined from 3.19% in 2000 to 2.29% in 2010. The figures for Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicities were recorded as zero for both census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 89.89% | 87.72% | -2.41% |
| Black | 3.99% | 5.94% | 48.87% |
| Two or More Races | 3.19% | 2.29% | -28.21% |
| Hispanic | 1.73% | 1.89% | 9.25% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |