UK surname

Perry

An English occupational surname referring to a pear orchard or someone who lived near a pear tree.

In the 1881 census there were 21,954 people recorded with the Perry surname, ranking it #157 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 33,874, ranked #154, up from #157 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Sandwell and Walsall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Perry is 35,208 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.3%.

1881 census count

21,954

Ranked #157

Modern count

33,874

2016, ranked #154

Peak year

1999

35,208 bearers

Map years

1851 to 2016

Key insights

• Perry had 21,954 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #157 surname in that year.
• The latest modern count shown here is 33,874 in 2016, ranked #154.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 31,458 in 1911.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Map

Perry surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Perry surname density by area, 1881 census.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Perry 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	14,347	#160
1861	historical	13,811	#178
1881	historical	21,954	#157
1891	historical	23,923	#151
1901	historical	28,702	#142
1911	historical	31,458	#115
1997	modern	33,517	#147
1998	modern	34,927	#145
1999	modern	35,208	#146
2000	modern	35,061	#148
2001	modern	34,144	#149
2002	modern	34,762	#150
2003	modern	33,743	#150
2004	modern	33,833	#149
2005	modern	33,053	#150
2006	modern	32,934	#152
2007	modern	33,023	#153
2008	modern	33,267	#153
2009	modern	34,051	#153
2010	modern	34,636	#154
2011	modern	34,149	#154
2012	modern	33,703	#153
2013	modern	34,430	#152
2014	modern	34,600	#152
2015	modern	34,176	#152
2016	modern	33,874	#154

Geography

Where Perrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, Sandwell, Walsall and Dudley. 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	Wolverhampton	Staffordshire
2	Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff	Gloucestershire
3	London parishes	London 1
4	London parishes	London 3
5	London parishes	London 2

Top modern areas

Rank	Area	District
1	Taunton Deane 013	Taunton Deane
2	Sandwell 010	Sandwell
3	Walsall 009	Walsall
4	Dudley 006	Dudley
5	Taunton Deane 007	Taunton Deane

Forenames

First names often paired with Perry

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

Historical female names

Mary Elizabeth Sarah Jane Ann Eliza Alice Annie Emma Ellen

Historical male names

William John George Thomas James Charles Joseph Henry Alfred Arthur

Recent female names

Susan Margaret Sarah Elizabeth Emma Patricia Mary Nicola Helen Karen

Recent male names

David John Michael Andrew Mark Stephen Christopher James Robert Richard

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Perry

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Perry 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

Perry is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Perry falls in decile 6 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Perry is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - British

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Perry

The surname Perry is believed to have originated in England, derived from the Old French word "perier," which means "pear tree." This suggests that the name was initially given as a descriptive term to someone who lived near a pear tree or orchard.

The earliest recorded instances of the Perry surname can be traced back to the late 11th century in various parts of England, such as Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Shropshire. It is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror.

During the Middle Ages, the Perry surname was often spelled in various ways, including Pery, Perrie, and Perrey. These variations reflect the fluid nature of surname spellings before standardization became more common in later centuries.

One notable bearer of the Perry surname was Sir Giles Perry, who lived in the 14th century and served as a soldier during the Hundred Years' War between England and France. He was knighted for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

In the 16th century, the Perry name gained prominence through the exploits of John Perry, a renowned English navigator and explorer who embarked on several voyages to the West Indies and South America. His travels and discoveries contributed to the expansion of British maritime interests during this period.

Another famous individual with the Perry surname was Oliver Hazard Perry, an American naval officer born in 1785. He is best known for his decisive victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812, where he famously declared, "We have met the enemy, and they are ours."

In the world of literature, Matthew Calbraith Perry, born in 1794, was an American naval officer and diplomat who played a crucial role in opening up trade relations between the United States and Japan in the mid-19th century. His expedition to Japan in 1853-1854 is considered a pivotal event in the country's history.

The Perry surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Perry Barr in Birmingham, Perry Hill in Surrey, and Perry Street in London. These place names likely originated from the presence of pear orchards or trees in those areas, reflecting the surname's original meaning.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Perry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Perry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 21,954 people were recorded with the Perry surname. That placed it at #157 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Perry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 33,874 in 2016. That gives Perry a modern rank of #154.

What does the Perry surname mean?