NameCensus.

UK surname

Perna

An Italian occupational surname referring to a shoemaker or someone who works with leather.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Peterborough, Aylesbury Vale and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Perna is 110 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

104

2016, ranked #30,317

Peak year

2010

110 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016, ranked #30,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Perna surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Perna surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Perna 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
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 50 #32,658
1998 modern 56 #32,313
1999 modern 64 #31,692
2000 modern 64 #31,735
2001 modern 64 #31,602
2002 modern 73 #31,159
2003 modern 71 #31,393
2004 modern 66 #32,079
2005 modern 75 #31,400
2006 modern 83 #30,808
2007 modern 85 #30,954
2008 modern 87 #30,999
2009 modern 96 #30,239
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 97 #30,798
2013 modern 100 #30,773
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 104 #30,317

Geography

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Where Pernas 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 Peterborough, Aylesbury Vale, Northumberland and Redbridge. 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 Peterborough 014 Peterborough
2 Aylesbury Vale 004 Aylesbury Vale
3 Peterborough 003 Peterborough
4 Northumberland 022 Northumberland
5 Redbridge 018 Redbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Perna

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Perna

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Perna, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Perna surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Perna household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Perna is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Perna 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

Perna falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Perna is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Perna

The surname Perna is of Italian origin, originating from the northern regions of the country. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "perna," which translates to "ham" or "haunch." This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname for someone who dealt with the curing or selling of hams or other pork products.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Perna surname can be found in the Libro d'Oro della Nobiltà Italiana, a register of Italian nobility published in the 15th century. It mentions a noble family with the surname Perna residing in the city of Milan during the 14th century.

The Perna name also appears in several historical documents from the 16th century, including records of the University of Padua, which was one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in Europe at the time. A notable figure associated with this name was Giovanni Battista Perna, a renowned printer and publisher from the city of Lecce, who lived from 1535 to 1596.

Another individual of note bearing the Perna surname was Pietro Perna, a 17th-century Italian sculptor and architect who worked primarily in Rome. His most famous work is the bronze statue of St. Peter, which stands in the basilica of St. Peter's in the Vatican City.

In the 18th century, the Perna name gained prominence in the field of music with the birth of Francesco Perna (1710-1789), an Italian composer and violinist who was highly regarded in his time. His compositions, particularly his violin concertos, were widely performed throughout Europe.

Moving into the 19th century, a notable figure was Carlo Perna (1836-1914), an Italian lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Italian Parliament and was actively involved in the Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification.

Over the centuries, the Perna surname has also been associated with various places and regions across Italy, such as the town of Perna in the province of Salerno, and the comune of Perno in the province of Novara.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Perna surname: questions and answers

How common is the Perna surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016. That gives Perna a modern rank of #30,317.

What does the Perna surname mean?

An Italian occupational surname referring to a shoemaker or someone who works with leather.

What does the Perna map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Perna 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.