NameCensus.

UK surname

Perren

An English surname derived from the French place name Peronne.

In the 1881 census there were 418 people recorded with the Perren surname, ranking it #7,718 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 384, ranked #12,251, down from #7,718 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, London parishes and South Stoneham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Stockton-on-Tees and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Perren is 475 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.1%.

1881 census count

418

Ranked #7,718

Modern count

384

2016, ranked #12,251

Peak year

1911

475 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Perren had 418 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,718 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 384 in 2016, ranked #12,251.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 475 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Perren surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Perren surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Perren 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 395 #6,095
1861 historical 310 #8,175
1881 historical 418 #7,718
1891 historical 375 #9,331
1901 historical 344 #10,569
1911 historical 475 #8,144
1997 modern 379 #11,447
1998 modern 399 #11,354
1999 modern 396 #11,527
2000 modern 394 #11,520
2001 modern 382 #11,606
2002 modern 392 #11,607
2003 modern 374 #11,828
2004 modern 387 #11,559
2005 modern 384 #11,538
2006 modern 378 #11,714
2007 modern 384 #11,726
2008 modern 389 #11,723
2009 modern 409 #11,524
2010 modern 411 #11,723
2011 modern 405 #11,765
2012 modern 384 #12,088
2013 modern 384 #12,295
2014 modern 385 #12,340
2015 modern 384 #12,276
2016 modern 384 #12,251

Geography

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Where Perrens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, London parishes, South Stoneham and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Stockton-on-Tees, Wiltshire and Test Valley. 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 Greenwich London (South Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 South Stoneham Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 027 Cornwall
2 Stockton-on-Tees 010 Stockton-on-Tees
3 Wiltshire 029 Wiltshire
4 Test Valley 006 Test Valley
5 Wiltshire 024 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Perren

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Perren

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Perren surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Perren household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Perren is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Perren is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Perren falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Perren is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Perren

The surname Perren is believed to have originated in England, with earliest records dating back to the 11th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "peron," meaning a small landing stage or platform, suggesting that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a landing stage or worked as a ferryman.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Perrun." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of land ownership and taxation in England, indicating that the Perren name was already established in the region by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name is found in various legal records and manuscripts, often appearing as "Peren" or "Peryn." During this period, the name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk, suggesting that the family may have originated or had strongholds in these areas of eastern England.

One notable early bearer of the Perren surname was John Perren, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Suffolk in the early 15th century. Records show that he owned substantial property and was involved in local government affairs.

Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Perren, who was born in Norfolk in 1524 and served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Great Yarmouth in 1559. He was a prominent figure in the local community and played an active role in the affairs of the region during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the name is found in various parish records and registers, with variations such as "Perryn," "Perrin," and "Perren" appearing across different regions of England. One notable bearer from this period was William Perren, born in 1642 in Gloucestershire, who was a successful merchant and landowner.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Perren surname continued to be widespread across England, with some bearers emigrating to other parts of the British Empire, including Australia and North America. One notable figure from this period was Edward Perren, born in 1789 in Wiltshire, who was a renowned architect and designed several notable buildings in London.

Overall, the surname Perren has a long and rich history, with its origins firmly rooted in medieval England. While the exact meaning and derivation of the name are not entirely certain, its association with landing stages or waterways suggests a connection to the occupations and lifestyles of its early bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Perren families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Perren 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. Hampshire leads with 108 Perrens recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.02x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 108 13.02x
Middlesex 74 1.83x
Kent 55 3.98x
Wiltshire 29 8.10x
Somerset 28 4.30x
Surrey 24 1.22x
Essex 18 2.25x
Cambridgeshire 13 5.07x
Sussex 13 1.90x
Devon 8 0.95x
Suffolk 8 1.62x
Berkshire 7 2.30x
Yorkshire 7 0.17x
Worcestershire 5 0.95x
Lancashire 4 0.08x
Hertfordshire 3 1.08x
Northamptonshire 3 0.79x
Cheshire 2 0.22x
Bedfordshire 1 0.48x
Cornwall 1 0.22x
Gloucestershire 1 0.13x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.24x
Royal Navy 1 2.07x
Shropshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. South Stoneham in Hampshire leads with 19 Perrens recorded in 1881 and an index of 105.56x.

Place Total Index
South Stoneham 19 105.56x
Southampton St Mary 19 36.41x
Islington London 14 3.57x
Lewisham 14 19.01x
Greenwich 13 20.17x
St Pancras London 13 3.99x
Box 11 360.66x
Harrow 11 177.71x
Barnston 10 4347.83x
Camberwell 10 3.87x
Portsea 10 6.15x
Ridley 9 10000.00x
Shoreditch London 9 5.13x
Upper Clatford 9 873.79x
Brading 8 72.53x
Deptford St Paul 8 7.51x
Melksham 8 128.62x
Whittlesey St Mary St 8 89.29x
Colerne 7 476.19x
Martock 7 165.09x
Stockbridge 7 578.51x
West Ham 7 3.97x
New Shoreham 6 146.70x
Newmarket St Mary 6 158.73x
Otterbourne 6 504.20x
Reading St Mary 6 24.65x
Hackney London 5 2.20x
Lambeth 5 1.42x
Langley 5 980.39x
Ryde 5 28.06x
Southampton All Sts 5 35.11x
Wells St Cuthbert 5 112.36x
Andover 4 51.02x
Drayton 4 689.66x
Kensington London 4 1.78x
Kidderminster Borough 4 12.93x
Lockerley 4 481.93x
Poplar London 4 5.24x
Send Ripley 4 155.64x
Walcot 4 11.53x
Wolborough 4 37.56x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.71x
Bexhill 3 88.24x
Fordham 3 180.72x
Great Munden 3 491.80x
Hipperholme Cum 3 17.02x
Millbrook 3 14.35x
Brixham 2 20.49x
Charlton Next Woolwich 2 13.89x
Chippenham 2 26.63x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.09x
Creech St Michael 2 122.70x
Curry Rivell 2 91.74x
Exning 2 80.32x
Eye 2 109.89x
Limehouse London 2 4.50x
Newington 2 1.34x
Salford 2 1.42x
Sculcoates 2 3.14x
Somerton 2 75.19x
Alverstoke 1 3.33x
Caterham 1 11.47x
Cuckfield 1 14.51x
Culcheth 1 31.75x
Kingsbury Episcopi 1 47.39x
Maidstone 1 2.43x
Marston 1 73.53x
Newmarket All Sts 1 52.91x
Norley 1 99.01x
Portsmouth 1 5.24x
Poulton With Fearnhead 1 97.09x
Preston 1 8.39x
Reigate Foreign 1 4.68x
Selattyn 1 62.89x
Shanklin 1 40.49x
Southwark St Olave 1 32.36x
St George Hanover 1 1.89x
St Helens 1 16.58x
Tottenham 1 1.55x
Whitechapel London 1 2.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 18
Sarah 12
Ellen 11
Jane 11
Alice 8
Annie 7
Kate 7
Emily 6
Ann 5
Eliza 4
Elizth. 4
Harriet 4
Martha 4
Anne 3
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Matilda 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Beatrice 2
Bessie 2
Caroline 2
Constance 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Hellen 2
Jessie 2
Lilian 2
Louisa 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Art 1
Caraline 1
Chritinia 1
Clara 1
Daisy 1
Dinah 1
Elisabeth 1
Grace 1
H.Ellen 1
Isadore 1
Janey 1
Jemima 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
George 15
James 15
John 15
Thomas 12
Charles 8
Arthur 6
Edward 6
Frederick 6
Henry 6
Walter 6
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Ernest 4
Richard 4
David 3
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Samuel 3
Sidney 3
Frank 2
Gooldew 2
Isaac 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Amariah. 1
Ambrose 1
Arannah 1
Asic 1
Augustus 1
Bertie 1
Carmil 1
Clarence 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Emanuel 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Horace 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Jessiah 1
Nolan 1
Silas 1
Sydney 1
Tom 1
Vincent 1
W. 1
W.H. 1

FAQ

Perren surname: questions and answers

How common was the Perren surname in 1881?

In 1881, 418 people were recorded with the Perren surname. That placed it at #7,718 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Perren surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 384 in 2016. That gives Perren a modern rank of #12,251.

What does the Perren surname mean?

An English surname derived from the French place name Peronne.

What does the Perren map show?

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