Purviss as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Purviss

What is the meaning of the name Purviss ?

The baby name Purviss is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈpɜːr.vɪs/ (PUR-vis).

Purviss is English in Origin.

Purviss is a modern respelling of the English and Scottish surname Purvis/Purves. The name traces to Anglo-Norman French purveisour "purveyor," from Old French porveoir and ultimately Latin providere "to provide." It identified the official who sourced provisions for a noble household, monastery, or military force, so the core sense is "purveyor, provider" or "quartermaster."

The surname is well attested in late-medieval records across Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, with strong clusters in Berwickshire. As a given name, Purviss follows the Anglophone practice of adopting surnames as first names from the 19th century onward; it remains rare and typically reads masculine. Notable variants include Purvis, Purves, Purvys, and the less common Purvess; related forms reflect the older English word purveyor. Parents choosing Purviss may appreciate its occupational heritage and the contemporary flair of the double-s spelling.

⚙ We can't find Purviss in any of the birth registries or name datasets we track. That usually points to a very rare, regional, or newly coined name. However you look at it, very few people share it.