{{for|the place|Purves, Texas}} '''Purves''' is a surname of British origin, which is a variant of Purvis.<ref>''Dictionary of American Family Names''. [http://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=purves "Purves Family History"], Oxford University Press, 2013. Retrieved on 18 January 2016.</ref> It is an occupational surname, meaning the person responsible for obtaining supplies for a household or monastery, derived from the Middle English ''purveys'' (meaning "provisions" or "supplies"), from the Old French ''porveoir'' ("to provide, supply").<ref>''Dictionary of American Family Names''. [http://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=purvis "Purvis Family History"], Oxford University Press, 2013. Retrieved on 18 January 2016.</ref> Notable people with this surname include:
* Andrew Purves (born 1946), British theologian * Austin M. Purves Jr. (1900–1977), American multi-media artist * Barry Purves (born 1960), British animator and filmmaker * Bill Purves (born 1870), Irish footballer * Cec Purves (born 1933), Canadian politician * Charlie Purves (1921–2013), English footballer * Christopher Purves (born 1961), British opera singer * Dale Purves (born 1938), American neuroscientist * Daphne Purves (1908–2008), New Zealand educator * David Purves (1924–2015), Scottish environmental scientist, playwright, poet and champion of the Scots language * Della Purves (1945–2008), British botanical artist * Edmund R. Purves (1897–1964), American architect * Herbert Purves (1908–1993), New Zealand medical researcher * James Purves (disambiguation) * Jane Purves (1949–2013), Canadian politician * Jodie Purves (born 1984), Australian sports administrator, coach and former cricketer * John Purves (disambiguation) * John-Clay Purves (1825–1903), British museum curator and geologist * J. R. W. Purves (1903–1979), Australian lawyer and philatelist * Laidlaw Purves (1842–1917), Scottish surgeon and golf advocate * Libby Purves (born 1950), British journalist * Margaret Purves (1934–2021), British recipient of the Albert Medal, later exchanged for the George Cross * Peter Purves (born 1939), British television presenter and actor * Ted Purves (born 1964), American artist * William Purves (banker) (born 1931), British banker * William Purves (rugby union) ({{fl.|1912–1913}}), Scottish rugby union player
==References== {{reflist}}
{{surname}} Category:Surnames of British Isles origin Category:English-language surnames