UK surname
A French surname likely derived from the French word "pierre" meaning stone or rock.
In the 1881 census there were 114 people recorded with the Perret surname, ranking it #18,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #18,324 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newbury, Briton Ferry and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Perret is 114 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 33.3%.
1881 census count
114
Ranked #18,324
Modern count
76
2016, ranked #33,304
Peak year
1881
114 bearers
Map years
1
1881 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Perret surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Perret surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 82 | #19,317 |
| 1861 | historical | 94 | #21,883 |
| 1881 | historical | 114 | #18,324 |
| 1891 | historical | 96 | #24,559 |
| 1901 | historical | 71 | #26,277 |
| 1911 | historical | 92 | #23,580 |
| 1997 | modern | 75 | #30,109 |
| 1998 | modern | 78 | #30,192 |
| 1999 | modern | 74 | #30,759 |
| 2000 | modern | 67 | #31,473 |
| 2001 | modern | 67 | #31,297 |
| 2002 | modern | 63 | #32,113 |
| 2003 | modern | 66 | #31,879 |
| 2004 | modern | 66 | #32,079 |
| 2005 | modern | 73 | #31,616 |
| 2006 | modern | 75 | #31,733 |
| 2007 | modern | 72 | #32,397 |
| 2008 | modern | 71 | #32,753 |
| 2009 | modern | 70 | #33,182 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 79 | #32,743 |
| 2012 | modern | 91 | #31,659 |
| 2013 | modern | 86 | #32,557 |
| 2014 | modern | 85 | #32,743 |
| 2015 | modern | 80 | #33,052 |
| 2016 | modern | 76 | #33,304 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newbury, Briton Ferry, London parishes, Govan Combination and Hill Farrance, Oake, Nynehead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newbury | Berkshire |
| 2 | Briton Ferry | Glamorganshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 5 | Hill Farrance, Oake, Nynehead | Somerset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Perret surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Perret, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Perret surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Perret household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Perret is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Perret is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Perret, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Perret originates from France and is believed to have first appeared in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "perret," which means a small stone or pebble. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a rocky or stony area.
The earliest recorded instances of the Perret surname can be traced back to the region of Burgundy in eastern France. It is likely that the name was initially used to identify individuals or families residing in or near towns or villages with names that included the word "perret" or variations of it.
One of the earliest known references to the name Perret can be found in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Cluny, a collection of medieval charters and documents from the Benedictine monastery in Cluny, Burgundy. This suggests that the name may have been associated with the monastic community or the surrounding areas.
During the 13th century, the name Perret began to appear more frequently in various records and documents across France. Notable individuals with this surname include Jean Perret (1455-1521), a French jurist and diplomat who served as the ambassador to England and Italy during the reign of King Francis I.
In the 16th century, Jacques Perret (1520-1592) was a renowned French architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Tuileries Palace and the Pont Neuf bridge over the River Seine.
Another prominent figure with the Perret surname was François Perret (1590-1670), a French botanist and physician who made significant contributions to the study of plant life and the classification of species.
In the 18th century, Jean-Jacques Perret (1730-1784) was a French engraver and printmaker known for his intricate etchings and engravings of landscapes and architectural subjects.
Moving into the 19th century, Auguste Perret (1874-1954) was a pioneering French architect and one of the leading proponents of reinforced concrete construction. He designed several iconic buildings in Paris, including the Church of Notre Dame du Raincy and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Perret surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 16 Perrets recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.45x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 16 | 1.45x |
| Somerset | 16 | 9.02x |
| Glamorgan | 11 | 5.73x |
| Gloucestershire | 9 | 4.16x |
| Lanarkshire | 9 | 2.52x |
| Wiltshire | 9 | 9.23x |
| Surrey | 7 | 1.30x |
| Hampshire | 6 | 2.66x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.38x |
| Channel Islands | 4 | 12.25x |
| Dorset | 4 | 5.53x |
| Monmouthshire | 4 | 5.02x |
| Sussex | 4 | 2.15x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 0.98x |
| Argyllshire | 1 | 3.26x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 1.50x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.44x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.32x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.82x |
| Montgomeryshire | 1 | 3.96x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.27x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.09x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Brent in Somerset leads with 12 Perrets recorded in 1881 and an index of 4444.44x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| East Brent | 12 | 4444.44x |
| Briton Ferry | 10 | 436.68x |
| Govan | 9 | 10.21x |
| Amport | 6 | 2307.69x |
| Newington | 6 | 14.73x |
| St Pancras London | 6 | 6.76x |
| Buckland | 5 | 4545.45x |
| Cerne Abbas | 4 | 1142.86x |
| Great Bolton | 4 | 23.09x |
| Little Cheverell | 4 | 5000.00x |
| Rowde | 4 | 888.89x |
| Southwick | 4 | 408.16x |
| St Peter Port | 4 | 66.23x |
| Trelleck | 4 | 1212.12x |
| Bristol St George | 3 | 30.00x |
| Hampton London | 3 | 165.75x |
| St George Hanover | 3 | 20.85x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 3.40x |
| Bovey Tracey | 1 | 125.00x |
| Bradford | 1 | 588.24x |
| Bridgewater | 1 | 20.75x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 6.00x |
| Croydon | 1 | 3.35x |
| Devizes St James | 1 | 76.92x |
| Eton | 1 | 66.23x |
| Glassary | 1 | 60.61x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 10.91x |
| Hinckley | 1 | 34.48x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 1 | 5.42x |
| Midmar | 1 | 256.41x |
| North Mimms | 1 | 208.33x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.47x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 2.26x |
| Tregynon | 1 | 370.37x |
| Uxbridge | 1 | 79.37x |
| Wells St Cuthbert Out | 1 | 69.93x |
| Weston Super Mare | 1 | 22.32x |
| Wortley In Bramley | 1 | 11.56x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Perret surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Sarah | 5 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Elizabeth | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Matilda | 3 |
| Amelia | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Henrietta | 2 |
| Julia | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Marie | 2 |
| Mary | 2 |
| Anealia | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Carrie | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Elenia | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Ena | 1 |
| Eugenie | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Leah | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Mercy | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Rosaline | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| Susanne | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Perret surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Perret households.
FAQ
In 1881, 114 people were recorded with the Perret surname. That placed it at #18,324 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Perret a modern rank of #33,304.
A French surname likely derived from the French word "pierre" meaning stone or rock.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Perret bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.