last name: Purkis
I'm trying to find the family origin, history and the meaning of the last name "Purkis" The Purkis family I know lives in Wisconsin. I think they came from England but I'm not sure...could you tell me more about the family?
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HI,
I'M A PURKIS MY GRANDFATHER IS ALWYN PURKIS WE ARE FROM CANADA MY GRANDFATHER MOVED TO FLORIDA WHEN MY DAD WAS 15YRS OLD. I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MY FAMILY PLEASE RESPOND.
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Yes we were from England with our first in our line to come to America being Edward George Purkis, son of Edward George Purkis both born in England.and yes we are in Wi. do you have a connection ? or this for commercial purposes only? C (Purkis) Mitte
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Please see http://freespace.virgin.net/j.purkis/ re the Rufus Stone and the Purkis connection. Purkis drives from "Purkaeus" which is a transliteration of the Greek for "Fire Kindlers".
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Apparently it derives from Norman French purchacer meaning "to purchase", and it referred to a person reponsible for buying goods.
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I checked “A Dictionary of British Surnames,” by P.H. Reaney, 2nd edition, published 1976. On page 285, PURKIS is treated under the main entry PURCHAS, from the Old French word purchas meaning "pursuit, pillage." But the name was used for a messenger.

Information about the progenitor of the family and a different meaning of the surname appear on page 279 of “A Dictionary of Surnames” by Mark Antony Lower, published 1988 (first published in 1860 as “A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom”).

Reg Niles
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Since many slaves from Camp Shudy and Castle Camps, in Cambridgeshire
England had this surname - could this be related to slave purchase or
slaves purchasing their freedom?
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