Purves is a surname of British origin, which is a variant of Purvis. 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"). The name may refer to:
Andrew Purves (born 1946), British theologian
Arthur Purves Phayre (1812–1885), British general
Austin M. Purves, Jr. (1900–1977), American artist
Barry Purves (born 1955), British animator and filmmaker
Cec Purves (born 1933), Canadian politician
Christopher Purves (born 1961), British singer
Dale Purves (born 1938), American neurobiologist
Daphne Purves (1908–2008), New Zealand educator
Della Purves (1945–2008), British botanical artist
Herbert Dudley Purves (1908–1993), New Zealand scientist
James Purves (disambiguation), several notable people
Jodie Purves (born 1984), Australian cricketer
John Purves (born 1968), Canadian ice hockey player
Libby Purves (born 1950), British journalist
Peter Purves (born 1939), British television presenter
Peter Purves Smith (1912–1949), Australian painter
Ted Purves (born 1964), American artist
William Purves (banker) (born 1931), British banker
