Surname Purcel - Meaning and Origin

Purcel: What does the surname Purcel mean?

The surname Purcel is of both English and Irish origins. Derived from the Old French word 'pourcel', which means a piglet or a small swine, it was often given as a nickname to a person who may be seen as resembling the animal's characteristics in some way or associated with raising or selling pigs.

In the Irish context, the last name Purcel is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Puirseil, derived from the personal name 'Puirseil'. Documentations show that bearers of the surname were early settlers in County Tipperary and played a considerable role in the region’s history.

It should be noted that the spelling variations can include Pursell, Purcell, Purcill, Pirsell and others, as was common due to inconsistencies in medieval transcripts. Famous bearers include the English baroque composer Henry Purcell and American graphic designer and artist, Gary Purcell.

Purcel: Where does the name Purcel come from?

The last name Purcel is most commonly found in the United States today. Records indicate that it dates back to the 1600s when it first appeared in colonial America. In the United States, there are typically more Purcels than in other countries due to the size of the population. With time, it has become increasingly diffuse across the country. According to the US Census Bureau, Purcel is the 8,950th most common surname in the US, with an estimated population of around 5,400.

Purcel is commonly found in the South and East regions of the United States. The states with the highest number of Purcels include Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana. The highest concentrations of Purcels can be found in counties in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Indiana. The surname is also found in a few other countries, like England and France, but the number of people with the surname is much smaller.

The meaning of the surname is unclear. It is believed to be of French origin and have derived from the word "pourcelle," meaning "by way of a sparrowhawk." This could indicate that the family was originally associated with hunting birds of prey. Regardless of its origin and meaning, the last name Purcel is still found around the world, from the US to France and other countries.

Variations of the surname Purcel

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Purcel are Purcell, Pursell, Purcull, Pircill, Pircle, Percival, Person, Persons, Pursall, Purssell, Priesel and Precel.

Purcel is an English surname that originates from the Norman French surname of de Percy, which was introduced into England by William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. The French surname was derived from the Latin personal name Percival or Parceval that contained the element 'percivalis' meaning piercing the valley.

The Purcel spelling is linked to the West Country in England and is found mainly in Somerset and Cornwall. Variations also appeared in Scotland. For example, Purcull and Precel are more common in Scotland than in England.

Person and Persons are thought to be a diminutive form of Purcel, with the addition of a diminutive suffix. Meanwhile, Priesel or Pressel may be an anglicised version of a German surname which could possibly be connected to Purcel.

The versions with a double 's' such as Pursall and Purssell may have been a result of a clerical error or a misreading of a name, while Pircill and Pircle could be from the Old French word 'espirol' meaning little boy.

In conclusion, there are various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Purcel. It is likely that different spellings developed as the name spread over different parts of the country.

Famous people with the name Purcel

• Patrick Edward Purcell, American newspaper publisher and philanthropist
• Lola Purcell, Irish musician and upcoming singer
• Fred Purcell, Former professional Canadian Football League player
• George Purcell, American professional baseball player
• Dick Purcell, American film actor
• David Purcell, English footballer
• Carl Purcell, American businessman and politician
• Rocky Purcell, American golfer
• Craig Purcell, American retired basketball player
• Dedrick Purcell, American retired basketball player
• John Edward Purcell, American television producer and writer
• Lila Lee Purcell, American film actress
• Willam Edward Purcell, American writer and illustrator
• Martin Purcell, Irish rebel leader and martyr
• John Purcell, American politician
• Ed Purcell, American physicist and Nobel Prize laureate
• Tom Purcell, American comedian, writer, and actor
• Ann Purcell, Australian radio presenter and television presenter
• Christina Purcell, Australian actress
• Patrick Purcell, Irish actor, theatre director, and playwright

Other surnames

PurcellPurcelleyPurcelliPurcer