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Updated June 9, 2019

Girl name origins & meanings

  • French : Provide

Family name origins & meanings

  • Scottish and northern English (Northumberland and Durham) : probably from Middle English purveys ‘provisions’, ‘supplies’ (from Middle English purvey(en), Old French porveoir ‘to provide, supply’), hence a metonymic occupational name for an official responsible for obtaining supplies for a monastery or manor house.

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