NameCensus.

UK surname

Perera

A Sinhalese surname indicating a descendant of a traditional drummer or someone from the drummer caste.

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Perera surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,402, ranked #2,736, up from #32,243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing, Brent and Harrow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Perera is 2,481 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23920.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

2,402

2016, ranked #2,736

Peak year

2010

2,481 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Perera had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,402 in 2016, ranked #2,736.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 19 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Perera surname distribution map

The map shows where the Perera surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Perera surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Perera over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 15 #30,614
1861 historical 12 #32,329
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1891 historical 19 #32,642
1901 historical 13 #32,633
1911 historical 13 #32,172
1997 modern 1,240 #4,583
1998 modern 1,298 #4,571
1999 modern 1,385 #4,345
2000 modern 1,431 #4,220
2001 modern 1,424 #4,162
2002 modern 1,592 #3,875
2003 modern 1,660 #3,655
2004 modern 1,813 #3,371
2005 modern 1,892 #3,222
2006 modern 1,959 #3,151
2007 modern 2,072 #3,021
2008 modern 2,144 #2,951
2009 modern 2,321 #2,813
2010 modern 2,481 #2,717
2011 modern 2,417 #2,745
2012 modern 2,297 #2,815
2013 modern 2,419 #2,740
2014 modern 2,429 #2,743
2015 modern 2,390 #2,758
2016 modern 2,402 #2,736

Geography

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Where Pereras are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ealing, Brent and Harrow. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ealing 005 Ealing
2 Brent 020 Brent
3 Harrow 033 Harrow
4 Brent 005 Brent
5 Harrow 010 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Perera

These lists show first names that appear often with the Perera surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Perera

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Perera, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Perera surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Perera household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Perera is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Perera is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Perera falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Perera is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Perera, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Perera

The surname PERERA has its origins in Spain and Portugal, with records indicating its use as early as the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Latin word "pira," meaning "pear tree," suggesting that it may have been an occupational surname for someone who cultivated or traded pears.

In Spain, the earliest known record of the PERERA surname dates back to 1272, when a certain Pedro Perera was mentioned in a document from the city of Seville. The name can also be found in medieval Catalan records, with a Berenguer Perera appearing in a document from Barcelona in 1301.

The PERERA surname's origins in Portugal can be traced back to the 14th century, with records indicating its presence in the northern region of the country. One notable early bearer of the name was João Perera, a nobleman who lived in the city of Porto in the late 1300s.

In terms of historical references, the PERERA surname is mentioned in several ancient manuscripts and chronicles. For instance, the name appears in the "Libro de la Montería" (Book of the Hunt), a 14th-century hunting treatise commissioned by King Alfonso XI of Castile, which lists a certain Martín Perera as one of the participants in a royal hunt.

The PERERA surname also has a connection to the Canary Islands, where it is believed to have been introduced by early Spanish settlers in the 15th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name in the Canary Islands was Juan Perera, a landowner and prominent figure in the island of Tenerife in the late 1400s.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the PERERA surname, including:

1. Tomás Perera (c. 1540-1610), a Spanish painter and sculptor active in Seville during the Renaissance. 2. Pedro Perera y Cabral (1586-1646), a Spanish military officer and governor of Puerto Rico from 1642 to 1646. 3. Gaspar Perera (1555-1629), a Spanish Jesuit priest and theologian known for his works on moral philosophy. 4. Manuel Perera y Saavedra (1690-1758), a Spanish naval officer and cartographer who served as the governor of Chile from 1749 to 1755. 5. António Pereira da Silva (1917-2008), a Portuguese architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the development of Lisbon's modern architecture.

While the PERERA surname has its roots in Iberia, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including Latin America, where it was introduced by Spanish and Portuguese colonizers and settlers. The name has also found its way to other regions through migration and diaspora communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Perera families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Perera surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Warwickshire leads with 7 Pereras recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.54x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 7 28.54x
Lancashire 2 1.73x
Oxfordshire 1 16.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edgbaston in Warwickshire leads with 7 Pereras recorded in 1881 and an index of 921.05x.

Place Total Index
Edgbaston 7 921.05x
Crumpsall 2 740.74x
Caversham 1 833.33x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Perera surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Adrienne 1
Clara 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Perera surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Cates 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
George 1
Pedro 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Perera households.

FAQ

Perera surname: questions and answers

How common was the Perera surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Perera surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Perera surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,402 in 2016. That gives Perera a modern rank of #2,736.

What does the Perera surname mean?

A Sinhalese surname indicating a descendant of a traditional drummer or someone from the drummer caste.

What does the Perera map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Perera bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.