NameCensus.

UK surname

Perrie

A variant of the English surname Perry, of Old French origin meaning "pear tree."

In the 1881 census there were 344 people recorded with the Perrie surname, ranking it #8,864 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 650, ranked #8,181, up from #8,864 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fallin, Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge and Larkhall Central, Raploch, Millheugh and Burnhead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Perrie is 655 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.0%.

1881 census count

344

Ranked #8,864

Modern count

650

2016, ranked #8,181

Peak year

2015

655 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Perrie had 344 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,864 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 650 in 2016, ranked #8,181.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 442 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Perrie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Perrie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Perrie 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 242 #9,001
1861 historical 309 #8,207
1881 historical 344 #8,864
1891 historical 442 #8,179
1901 historical 429 #9,018
1911 historical 60 #26,808
1997 modern 551 #8,644
1998 modern 571 #8,675
1999 modern 577 #8,662
2000 modern 586 #8,542
2001 modern 562 #8,664
2002 modern 580 #8,639
2003 modern 552 #8,814
2004 modern 565 #8,697
2005 modern 591 #8,363
2006 modern 575 #8,550
2007 modern 570 #8,676
2008 modern 576 #8,675
2009 modern 587 #8,733
2010 modern 608 #8,700
2011 modern 628 #8,384
2012 modern 641 #8,147
2013 modern 652 #8,204
2014 modern 654 #8,216
2015 modern 655 #8,145
2016 modern 650 #8,181

Geography

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Where Perries are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow, Dalserf and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fallin, Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge, Larkhall Central, Raploch, Millheugh and Burnhead, Paisley Central and Lesmahagow. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Edinburgh Edinburgh
2 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Dalserf Lanark
5 Paisley Abbey Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fallin Stirling
2 Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge Fife
3 Larkhall Central, Raploch, Millheugh and Burnhead South Lanarkshire
4 Paisley Central Renfrewshire
5 Lesmahagow South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Perrie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Perrie

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Perrie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Perrie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Perrie is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Perrie is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Perrie falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Perrie

The surname Perrie has its origins in France, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "perrier," which refers to a quarry or a place where stone is extracted. This suggests that the name may have originated from an occupational surname for someone who worked in a quarry or a stonemason.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Perrie can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Perrier," likely referring to a person who lived near or worked in a quarry.

In the 13th century, the name Perrie was prevalent in the area around Normandy, France. Records from this period show variations in spelling, such as "Perrier," "Perier," and "Perrie." These variations were common during the Middle Ages due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One notable individual with the surname Perrie was Jean Perrier, a French mathematician and astronomer born in 1598. He is known for his contributions to the development of the telescope and his work on the observation of celestial bodies.

Another historical figure with the name Perrie was Antoine Perrier, a French painter and engraver who lived from 1638 to 1691. He was renowned for his etchings depicting architectural monuments and landscapes.

In England, the surname Perrie can be traced back to the 16th century, likely brought over by French immigrants or those of Norman descent. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in England is that of William Perrie, who was born in 1567 in Oxfordshire.

The village of Perryville in Kentucky, United States, was named after a prominent family with the surname Perrie who settled in the area in the early 19th century. This further illustrates the widespread distribution of the name across different regions.

Other notable individuals with the surname Perrie include:

1. Robert Perrie (1794-1865), a Scottish architect known for his work on several churches in Edinburgh. 2. John Perrie (1823-1895), a Canadian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 3. George Perrie (1858-1937), a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs in the late 19th century. 4. Edith Perrie (1876-1958), a British artist and illustrator best known for her work in children's books. 5. James Perrie (1903-1975), an Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton Football Club in the 1920s and 1930s.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Perrie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Perrie 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. Lanarkshire leads with 110 Perries recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.17x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 110 10.17x
Aberdeenshire 31 10.00x
Angus 27 8.71x
Ayrshire 27 10.78x
Kent 17 1.49x
Cumberland 13 4.51x
Ross-shire 13 14.15x
Derbyshire 10 1.91x
Wigtownshire 10 22.51x
Dunbartonshire 9 10.01x
Renfrewshire 9 3.47x
Banffshire 8 11.53x
Durham 8 0.80x
Lancashire 8 0.20x
Midlothian 7 1.56x
Sussex 5 0.89x
Middlesex 4 0.12x
Morayshire 4 7.69x
Yorkshire 4 0.12x
Cheshire 2 0.27x
Orkney 2 5.43x
Oxfordshire 2 0.97x
Perthshire 2 1.33x
Staffordshire 2 0.18x
Surrey 2 0.12x
Berwickshire 1 2.47x
Devon 1 0.14x
Essex 1 0.15x
Hampshire 1 0.15x
Inverness-shire 1 1.00x
Shetland 1 2.93x
Stirlingshire 1 0.81x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lesmahagow in Lanarkshire leads with 27 Perries recorded in 1881 and an index of 236.01x.

Place Total Index
Lesmahagow 27 236.01x
Dalserf 21 194.44x
Peterhead 18 109.82x
Barony 16 5.84x
Kilwinning 15 185.41x
Shettleston 12 123.84x
Hamilton 11 36.45x
St Cuthbert W O 10 71.23x
Stoneykirk 10 314.47x
Tonbridge 10 24.29x
Abbey 9 22.75x
Dundee 8 6.91x
Logie Wester 8 484.85x
Aberdeen Old Machar 7 10.82x
Sevenoaks 7 75.59x
Brampton 6 81.97x
Dumbarton 6 47.96x
Keith 6 81.08x
Monifieth 6 54.79x
Old Monkland 6 13.97x
Alness 5 420.17x
Cadder 5 62.58x
Riccarton Hurlford 5 113.90x
Ayr 4 33.84x
Bothwell 4 13.63x
Glossop Dale 4 16.31x
Harthill Cum Woodall 4 314.96x
Hastings St Mary In The 4 33.25x
Kirkdale 4 5.99x
Liff Benvie 4 8.50x
Stranton 4 11.94x
Barry 3 80.65x
Bishopwearmouth 3 3.51x
Cumbernauld 3 60.85x
Dearham 3 78.95x
Glasgow 3 1.56x
Kilmarnock 3 10.07x
Lundie 3 833.33x
Chester St Oswald 2 14.96x
Drainie 2 43.38x
Edinburgh St Stephens 2 22.68x
Govan 2 0.75x
Holywell 2 206.19x
Kirknewton 2 155.04x
Perth Middle Church 2 35.40x
Toxteth Park 2 1.49x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 1.72x
Baldernock 1 151.52x
Belhelvie 1 47.17x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.69x
Burton Upon Trent 1 3.79x
Camberwell 1 0.47x
Carmichael 1 111.11x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.59x
Dolphinton 1 285.71x
Duffus 1 21.83x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.55x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 10.75x
Egg Buckland 1 84.03x
Firth Stenness 1 63.29x
Forgue 1 35.97x
Forres 1 18.32x
Handsworth 1 3.59x
Lambeth 1 0.34x
Layton With Warbreck 1 6.86x
Lochee 1 36.23x
Maryhill 1 4.72x
Methlick 1 40.32x
Monkwearmouth Shore 1 5.15x
Monquhitter 1 31.15x
Montrose 1 5.32x
Mortlach 1 29.50x
Portsea 1 0.74x
Rottingdean 1 51.81x
St George Hanover 1 2.29x
St Marylebone London 1 0.56x
Stromness 1 36.23x
Tyrie 1 25.71x
West Calder 1 11.33x
West Ham 1 0.69x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

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 Perrie households.

FAQ

Perrie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Perrie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 344 people were recorded with the Perrie surname. That placed it at #8,864 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Perrie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 650 in 2016. That gives Perrie a modern rank of #8,181.

What does the Perrie surname mean?

A variant of the English surname Perry, of Old French origin meaning "pear tree."

What does the Perrie map show?

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