Purser is an English occupational surname with two primary possible origins.
Origin and Meaning
The surname Purser is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Middle English purser(e), purcere, or porser(e), meaning "purser, purse-bearer, treasurer." It was an occupational name for a maker of purses or bags, or for a treasurer or bursar who was responsible for carrying the purse of an important official and managing expenses. The name ultimately traces back to the Old English pre-7th-century word purs, meaning "purse," and is also related to the Old French word borsier, which carried both meanings.
In Scotland, the surname may alternatively derive from a developed form of the ancient Gaelic Mac Sparain, meaning "son of Sparan," a byname that also means "purse."
Early Records
The earliest known recorded spelling of the surname is Derewin Purs, dated 1176 in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire, during the reign of King Henry II of England (1154–1189). Early church register recordings in London include Elizabeth Purser, christened on January 6, 1562, at the Church of St. Mary at Hill, and the marriage of Georgius Purse to Margata Rumforth on September 25, 1569, at St. Andrew's, Enfield. In Scotland, Adam Purs was recorded as a "secular of Elgin cathedral" in 1343.
Spelling Variations
Historical spelling variations of the surname include Burser, Bursar, Bourcer, Bursor, Borser, Berser, Purcer, and Purse.
Distribution and Ranking
In the United States, Purser is ranked approximately 6,204th in popularity among surnames, with an estimated 4,974 bearers. According to FamilySearch, the surname is most commonly found in England (approximately 3,827 individuals), the United States (approximately 2,245 individuals), and Wales (approximately 356 individuals).
Notable Individuals with the Surname Purser
- Philip John Purser (1925–2022), British television critic and novelist
- John Purser (b. 1942), Scottish composer
- David Purser (b. 1987), English footballer
- Ronald E. Purser (b. 1956), American university professor at San Francisco State University
- Dorothy Anne Purser, American daytime actress and Daytime Emmy recipient
- Lloyd John Purser, British Royal Marines officer, recipient of the Order of the British Empire
