UK surname
A surname likely derived from a diminutive form of the given name Peter.
In the 1881 census there were 128 people recorded with the Perritt surname, ranking it #17,079 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 72, ranked #33,585, down from #17,079 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Endford, Netheravon and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Perritt is 217 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 43.8%.
1881 census count
128
Ranked #17,079
Modern count
72
2016, ranked #33,585
Peak year
1891
217 bearers
Map years
4
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Perritt surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Perritt 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 | 87 | #18,695 |
| 1861 | historical | 129 | #17,271 |
| 1881 | historical | 128 | #17,079 |
| 1891 | historical | 217 | #14,062 |
| 1901 | historical | 177 | #16,342 |
| 1911 | historical | 88 | #24,041 |
| 1997 | modern | 88 | #28,611 |
| 1998 | modern | 99 | #27,785 |
| 1999 | modern | 96 | #28,326 |
| 2000 | modern | 91 | #28,952 |
| 2001 | modern | 92 | #28,528 |
| 2002 | modern | 89 | #29,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 81 | #30,311 |
| 2004 | modern | 81 | #30,569 |
| 2005 | modern | 72 | #31,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 77 | #31,510 |
| 2007 | modern | 76 | #31,966 |
| 2008 | modern | 79 | #31,957 |
| 2009 | modern | 74 | #32,835 |
| 2010 | modern | 72 | #33,324 |
| 2011 | modern | 72 | #33,323 |
| 2012 | modern | 69 | #33,695 |
| 2013 | modern | 72 | #33,631 |
| 2014 | modern | 71 | #33,717 |
| 2015 | modern | 70 | #33,717 |
| 2016 | modern | 72 | #33,585 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Endford, Netheravon, Govan Combination, Glasgow and Ramsgate. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Endford, Netheravon | Wiltshire |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 5 | Ramsgate | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Perritt 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 Perritt, 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 Perritt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Perritt 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, Perritt 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 Perritt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Perritt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Perritt is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, possibly as early as the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "perree," which means a stony or rocky area, suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked in a quarry or rocky terrain.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Perritt can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1273, where it appears as "Perret." This document lists a person by that name as being responsible for paying a tax or fine to the local authorities.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms such as "Perrot," "Perrott," and "Perret" in various records across different regions of England, including Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. This suggests that the name had spread to various parts of the country by that time.
One notable historical figure bearing the name Perritt was Sir John Perritt, a member of the English gentry who lived in the late 16th century. He was a landowner and served as a Justice of the Peace in Wiltshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Another prominent individual was Thomas Perritt, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Norfolk during the 17th century. He is recorded as having been involved in the wool trade and owning substantial property in the area around Norwich.
In the 18th century, the name Perritt can be found in the parish records of several villages in Oxfordshire, including Shiplake and Kidmore End. One notable person from this period was William Perritt, a farmer and landowner who lived in the village of Goring-on-Thames in the late 1700s.
Moving into the 19th century, the Perritt surname appears to have been particularly prevalent in the counties of Wiltshire and Somerset. One individual of note was John Perritt, a prominent Baptist minister who served as the pastor of a church in Frome, Somerset, from 1832 until his death in 1868.
Another significant figure was Henry Perritt, a successful businessman and philanthropist who lived in Bath, Somerset, during the latter half of the 19th century. He made his fortune in the textile industry and donated generously to various charitable causes in the city.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Perritt 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. Devon leads with 19 Perritts recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.20x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 19 | 7.20x |
| Wiltshire | 19 | 16.94x |
| Kent | 17 | 3.93x |
| Yorkshire | 11 | 0.88x |
| Lanarkshire | 10 | 2.44x |
| Northamptonshire | 10 | 8.39x |
| Somerset | 10 | 4.90x |
| Hertfordshire | 4 | 4.58x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.32x |
| Surrey | 4 | 0.65x |
| Sussex | 4 | 1.87x |
| Dunbartonshire | 3 | 8.81x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 1.48x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 0.80x |
| Stirlingshire | 2 | 4.28x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.27x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.40x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.38x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.07x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.51x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 6.62x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.31x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.60x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brixham in Devon leads with 17 Perritts recorded in 1881 and an index of 555.56x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Perritt surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 6 |
| Mary | 4 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Eva | 2 |
| Florence | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Beatrice | 1 |
| Cathe. | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Elliner | 1 |
| Evangeline | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Isabel | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Marriah | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Olive | 1 |
| Sarah | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| William | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Perritt 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 Perritt households.
FAQ
In 1881, 128 people were recorded with the Perritt surname. That placed it at #17,079 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 72 in 2016. That gives Perritt a modern rank of #33,585.
A surname likely derived from a diminutive form of the given name Peter.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Perritt 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.