NameCensus.

UK surname

Perrin

A French topographic surname for someone who lived near a stony place, derived from Old French "pierre" meaning "stone."

In the 1881 census there were 3,046 people recorded with the Perrin surname, ranking it #1,472 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,212, ranked #1,608, down from #1,472 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, South Somerset and Cannock Chase.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Perrin is 4,521 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.3%.

1881 census count

3,046

Ranked #1,472

Modern count

4,212

2016, ranked #1,608

Peak year

1999

4,521 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Perrin had 3,046 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,472 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,212 in 2016, ranked #1,608.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,261 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Perrin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Perrin surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Perrin 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 1,735 #1,666
1861 historical 1,444 #1,968
1881 historical 3,046 #1,472
1891 historical 3,146 #1,504
1901 historical 4,032 #1,397
1911 historical 4,261 #1,219
1997 modern 4,402 #1,489
1998 modern 4,515 #1,496
1999 modern 4,521 #1,511
2000 modern 4,480 #1,515
2001 modern 4,377 #1,514
2002 modern 4,414 #1,532
2003 modern 4,293 #1,536
2004 modern 4,282 #1,544
2005 modern 4,174 #1,559
2006 modern 4,153 #1,574
2007 modern 4,154 #1,585
2008 modern 4,154 #1,595
2009 modern 4,228 #1,604
2010 modern 4,331 #1,602
2011 modern 4,313 #1,587
2012 modern 4,207 #1,595
2013 modern 4,299 #1,598
2014 modern 4,303 #1,601
2015 modern 4,246 #1,606
2016 modern 4,212 #1,608

Geography

Back to top

Where Perrins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, Manchester and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, South Somerset, Cannock Chase, Central Bedfordshire and Camden. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 001 North East Lincolnshire
2 South Somerset 004 South Somerset
3 Cannock Chase 003 Cannock Chase
4 Central Bedfordshire 007 Central Bedfordshire
5 Camden 028 Camden

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Perrin

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Perrin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Perrin, 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 Perrin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Perrin 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Perrin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Perrin 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

Perrin falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Perrin 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 Perrin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Perrin

The surname Perrin has its origins in France, tracing back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "perrin," which means a small rock or pebble. This name was likely given as a nickname to someone who lived near a rocky area or had a connection with stone quarrying or masonry.

The earliest recorded mention of the Perrin surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Perin" in the records for Hertfordshire, England. This suggests that the name may have been introduced to England by Norman settlers after the conquest in 1066.

During the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various spellings such as Perrin, Perren, and Perron. These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in record-keeping and regional dialects at the time. The name was particularly prevalent in the Normandy region of France and parts of England, where many Perrin families established themselves.

One notable early bearer of the Perrin name was Jacques Perrin (c. 1490-1554), a French Protestant reformer and theologian. He was a prominent figure in the Reformation movement and played a significant role in the spread of Protestant teachings in France.

In the 17th century, François Perrin (1590-1670) was a French mathematician and physicist who made contributions to the study of optics and the nature of light. He is best known for his collaboration with Blaise Pascal in conducting experiments on the vacuum and atmospheric pressure.

During the American Revolutionary War, Etienne Perrin (1745-1808) was a French-born soldier who fought alongside the Continental Army. He served as a captain in the Pulaski Legion and was later awarded land grants in Pennsylvania for his service.

In the literary world, Marie-Anne Perrin (1790-1860) was a French novelist and playwright who wrote under the pen name "Eugène de Mirecourt." Her works explored social issues and the lives of women in 19th-century France.

Another notable Perrin was Émile Perrin (1814-1904), a French operatic tenor and teacher. He had a successful career performing at the Paris Opera and later became a renowned voice instructor, teaching many famous singers of his time.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the Perrin surname who left their mark on history. The name has endured through the centuries, carrying the legacy of its French origins and the diverse accomplishments of those who bore it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Perrin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Perrin 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. Middlesex leads with 477 Perrins recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.60x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 477 1.60x
Surrey 307 2.11x
Lancashire 297 0.84x
Essex 228 3.86x
Cheshire 223 3.38x
Kent 160 1.57x
Gloucestershire 122 2.08x
Devon 108 1.74x
Oxfordshire 101 5.47x
Lincolnshire 99 2.07x
Sussex 99 1.96x
Hampshire 86 1.40x
Somerset 82 1.70x
Northamptonshire 77 2.74x
Berkshire 71 3.16x
Yorkshire 68 0.23x
Hertfordshire 58 2.81x
Buckinghamshire 57 3.15x
Warwickshire 51 0.68x
Cambridgeshire 32 1.69x
Wiltshire 27 1.02x
Channel Islands 24 2.71x
Staffordshire 24 0.24x
Worcestershire 23 0.59x
Glamorgan 21 0.40x
Herefordshire 18 1.47x
Shropshire 16 0.62x
Nottinghamshire 15 0.37x
Leicestershire 13 0.39x
Derbyshire 11 0.24x
Denbighshire 10 0.89x
Cumberland 7 0.27x
Durham 7 0.08x
Huntingdonshire 7 1.18x
Bedfordshire 6 0.39x
Monmouthshire 6 0.28x
Northumberland 6 0.13x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.41x
Norfolk 3 0.07x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.32x
Cornwall 2 0.06x
Midlothian 2 0.05x
Royal Navy 2 0.56x
Cardiganshire 1 0.14x
East Lothian 1 0.25x
Merionethshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 63 Perrins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.42x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 63 2.42x
Islington London 55 1.90x
Bermondsey 45 5.06x
Hackney London 45 2.68x
Camberwell 41 2.15x
Shoreditch London 39 3.01x
Newington 35 3.17x
Brighton 34 3.34x
Hyde 31 15.92x
Tottenham 31 6.51x
Aylesford 29 102.58x
Birmingham 29 1.15x
Kensington London 28 1.68x
Hulme 27 3.65x
Maidstone 26 8.56x
Withington 23 20.12x
Portsea 22 1.83x
Habergham Eaves 21 6.48x
Hammersmith London 21 2.85x
Chigwell 20 35.90x
Ilfracombe 20 31.22x
Littlebury 20 245.40x
Sawbridgeworth 20 64.10x
Chatham 19 6.77x
Hale 19 83.48x
West Ham 19 1.46x
Barking 18 10.42x
Croydon 18 2.23x
Enfield 18 9.18x
Barton Upon Irwell 16 5.99x
Reading St Giles 16 7.27x
St Marylebone London 16 1.00x
St Pancras London 16 0.66x
Thriplow 16 338.27x
Woodford 16 23.95x
Bethnal Green London 15 1.15x
Cheltenham 15 3.32x
Highworth 15 44.38x
Hornchurch 15 51.85x
Liverpool 15 0.70x
Stretford 15 7.68x
Wandsworth 15 5.21x
Wellingborough 15 10.61x
West Derby 15 1.45x
Ashton Under Lyne 14 1.81x
Bix 14 318.91x
Mile End Old Town 14 2.97x
Northampton St Giles 14 13.07x
Clerkenwell London 13 1.84x
Everton 13 1.15x
Lewisham 13 2.39x
Liss 13 104.33x
St Albans 13 30.78x
Cameley 12 222.63x
Didsbury 12 25.47x
Fulham London 12 2.77x
Lymm 12 25.01x
Twickenham 12 9.36x
Writtle 12 49.75x
Aldershot 11 5.36x
Ardeley 11 216.96x
Chelsea London 11 1.22x
Chignall St James 11 506.91x
Clapham 11 2.94x
Harlow 11 43.26x
Lee 11 7.43x
Poplar London 11 1.95x
Stonehouse 11 33.01x
Wheatenhurst 11 294.91x
Wotton Under Edge 11 31.83x
Birkenhead 10 1.90x
Bow London 10 2.63x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 1.81x
East Stonehouse 10 8.16x
Eastbourne 10 4.31x
Little Dunmow 10 289.02x
Macclesfield 10 3.41x
Northampton Priory St 10 5.93x
Pownall Fee 10 33.86x
Stockport 10 2.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 198
Elizabeth 122
Sarah 104
Jane 64
Eliza 58
Ann 54
Alice 53
Emma 51
Emily 42
Annie 41
Ellen 35
Harriet 33
Louisa 32
Hannah 29
Martha 29
Susan 24
Charlotte 23
Clara 22
Edith 20
Ada 19
Florence 19
Lucy 18
Maria 18
Catherine 17
Frances 16
Fanny 15
Matilda 14
Kate 12
Caroline 11
Esther 11
Margaret 11
Elizth. 10
Amy 9
Anne 9
Amelia 8
Eleanor 7
Harriett 7
Helen 7
Julia 7
Lydia 7
Susannah 7
Anna 6
Henrietta 6
Rebecca 6
Rose 6
Agnes 5
Mabel 5
Minnie 5
Rosina 5
Sophia 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 213
John 169
George 115
James 104
Thomas 92
Henry 70
Charles 63
Alfred 47
Joseph 44
Edward 36
Frederick 35
Walter 33
Arthur 25
Albert 23
Samuel 23
Richard 21
Herbert 19
Robert 17
Frank 15
Harry 15
Peter 15
Francis 13
Ernest 11
Edwin 10
Josiah 10
Jesse 8
Benjamin 7
Daniel 7
Fredk. 7
Thos. 7
Fred 6
Wm. 6
Fredrick 5
Isaac 5
David 4
Edgar 4
Alexander 3
Alexr. 3
Dennis 3
Edmund 3
Frederic 3
Tom 3
Allan 2
Edwd. 2
Jas. 2
Jean 2
Joe 2
Joel 2
Jonas 2
Jonathan 2

FAQ

Perrin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Perrin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,046 people were recorded with the Perrin surname. That placed it at #1,472 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Perrin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,212 in 2016. That gives Perrin a modern rank of #1,608.

What does the Perrin surname mean?

A French topographic surname for someone who lived near a stony place, derived from Old French "pierre" meaning "stone."

What does the Perrin map show?

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