Purvis is a unique and distinctive given name of English origin. It is derived from the Old French personal name 'Porveis', which was originally introduced to England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The name Porveis is believed to have been composed of Germanic elements, possibly 'puri' meaning 'pearl' and 'wisu' meaning 'strong'. Over time, the name evolved into Purvis, retaining its unique character but losing some of its historical significance.
The name Purvis experienced its peak popularity between 1915 and 1924, with a significant increase in births occurring during this period. Specifically, there were 18 births in 1915, 19 in 1916, and the highest recorded number of 27 births in 1921. However, since then, its popularity has declined significantly. In the past two decades (1990-2010), there have been fewer than 10 Purvis births per year on average, with some years recording as few as five or six births.