UK surname
A surname derived from the Old French word "peri", meaning someone who worked with stone or masonry.
In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Pery surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #28,285 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith, St Pancras and Bristol City: Temple. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pery is 163 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.6%.
1881 census count
38
Ranked #28,285
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1891
163 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pery surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pery surname density by area, 1891 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 | 118 | #15,362 |
| 1861 | historical | 154 | #14,963 |
| 1881 | historical | 38 | #28,285 |
| 1891 | historical | 163 | #17,300 |
| 1901 | historical | 52 | #28,377 |
| 1911 | historical | 77 | #25,106 |
| 1997 | modern | 48 | #32,878 |
| 1998 | modern | 45 | #33,374 |
| 1999 | modern | 29 | #35,031 |
| 2000 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2001 | modern | 24 | #35,357 |
| 2002 | modern | 17 | #36,164 |
| 2003 | modern | 16 | #36,304 |
| 2004 | modern | 15 | #36,530 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 19 | #36,323 |
| 2007 | modern | 22 | #36,213 |
| 2008 | modern | 20 | #36,443 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 26 | #36,166 |
| 2013 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2014 | modern | 28 | #36,107 |
| 2015 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith, St Pancras, Bristol City: Temple, Matching and St Marylebone. 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 | Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Bristol City: Temple | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Matching | Essex |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pery 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 Pery, 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 Pery surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pery 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, Pery 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 Pery is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pery, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname PERY has its origins traced back to France, where it is believed to have emerged in the early 13th century. The name is thought to have derived from the Old French word "per," meaning a pear tree, suggesting that the initial bearers of this surname may have lived near or worked with pear trees.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the PERY surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire, England, dating back to 1273. This historical record lists a Richard Pery as a resident of the county. Additionally, the Testa de Nevill, a collection of feudal tenancies compiled in the late 12th and early 13th centuries, mentions a William Pery as a landowner in Gloucestershire.
In the 14th century, the PERY surname made its way to Ireland, where it became particularly prevalent in County Limerick. The Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, refers to a prominent individual named John PERY, who lived in the late 15th century and served as the Bishop of Killaloe.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, several notable figures bearing the PERY surname emerged. One such individual was Sir William PERY (1534-1604), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire. Another prominent figure was Sir Edward PERY (1587-1657), an English soldier and politician who played a significant role in the English Civil War.
In Ireland, the PERY family established themselves as a prominent landowning dynasty in County Limerick. Edmond PERY (1719-1806), known as the Speaker Pery, was a notable figure who served as the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons and was later elevated to the peerage as Viscount Pery. His son, Edmund Henry PERY (1758-1845), succeeded him as the 2nd Viscount Pery and was a prominent politician and reformer in his own right.
Other notable individuals with the PERY surname include Sir William PERY (1721-1805), an Irish politician and judge who served as the Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, and John Joseph PERY (1888-1967), an Irish politician and barrister who served as the Attorney General of Ireland in the early 20th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pery 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. Glamorgan leads with 6 Perys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.30x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Glamorgan | 6 | 9.30x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 3.20x |
| Cornwall | 3 | 7.15x |
| Essex | 3 | 4.10x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.81x |
| Northamptonshire | 3 | 8.61x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 2.45x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 2.63x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.58x |
| Surrey | 2 | 1.11x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 2.14x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 4.13x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 4.46x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.72x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.38x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 2.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cardiff St Mary in Glamorgan leads with 6 Perys recorded in 1881 and an index of 169.01x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiff St Mary | 6 | 169.01x |
| Rowley Regis | 4 | 114.94x |
| Cottingham | 2 | 1666.67x |
| Feock | 2 | 769.23x |
| Northfield | 2 | 217.39x |
| Tittenley | 2 | 0.00x |
| Waltham Holy Cross | 2 | 294.12x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 3.21x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 17.83x |
| Chesterfield | 1 | 46.08x |
| Croydon | 1 | 9.98x |
| Eton | 1 | 196.08x |
| Frindsbury | 1 | 208.33x |
| Great Packington | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Great Saling | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 7.34x |
| Portsea | 1 | 6.72x |
| Ramsgate | 1 | 48.54x |
| Richmond | 1 | 39.53x |
| St Luke London | 1 | 16.84x |
| St Thomas Winchester | 1 | 185.19x |
| Sudbury St Peter | 1 | 400.00x |
| Towednack | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Weedon Beck | 1 | 400.00x |
| Westminster St | 1 | 72.99x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pery surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pery 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 Pery households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Nail Maker | 2 |
| (Servant Dom) | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Bakers Boy | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Farm Serv Indoor | 1 |
| Farmer 131 Acres | 1 |
| Footman Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Land Owner | 1 |
| Musician Beer Retailer | 1 |
| Pensioner Gunpowder Fcty | 1 |
| Private 69th Foot | 1 |
| Retired Laundress | 1 |
| Tin Smith | 1 |
| Vicar Of St Feock | 1 |
| Works At Brickyard | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Pery surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Pery a modern rank of #36,254.
A surname derived from the Old French word "peri", meaning someone who worked with stone or masonry.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pery 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.