Surname Perley - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Perley: What does the surname Perley mean?
The last name Perley is of English origin. It is derived from a place name meaning “peril clearing” in Old English. “Peril” references a Gaelic term meaning “teaching” and is an allusion to “leah” which means “clearing” in Old English.
Perley is a rare, old-fashioned surname, particularly common in the southern region of England. It may be found among the records of famous, distinguished families in the regions of Devon and Hampshire. The presence of this last name in records dates back to the 13th century. Early settlers of North American have brought this surname to the United States and Canada, where it is mostly concentrated in New England.
The earliest use of the Perley name is believed to be in reference to Thores Perley, a designer of a map of Northwestern Europe in 1785. John Perley, a Baptist minister from 1780 to 1812 is another notable bearer of the name. His passing is recorded as major story for the State Baptist society.
The Perley surname is highly esteemed and rich in history. It is believed to be bestowed upon those individuals who have high-minded and honest personalities, are self-confident, and passionate about life. This highly traditional surname has been passed on for generations, and is an inspiring reminder of our heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisPerley: Where does the name Perley come from?
The last name Perley is most commonly found in the United States today. According to public records, Perley is the 2,074th most common surname in America as of the 2000 census. It is most heavily concentrated in the state of New Hampshire. In the 2000 census, there were 2,053 individuals with the surname Perley living in America, with the majority located in New Hampshire (656), Massachusetts (468), and Maine (210).
Other countries with substantial numbers of Perley individuals include Canada (758) and the United Kingdom (266). Canada has the most Perley individuals outside of the United States, with Nova Scotia (231) leading in the region followed by Ontario (210). In the UK, most Perleys are located in England (195), followed by Scotland (58).
The Perley surname dates back to the 12th century and is derived from the Old French word "perrillé," meaning "brave." It is believed to be a descendant of Pierre, the French given name meaning "rock" or "stone." By most accounts, the Perleys were a family of aristocrats similar in status to the Devereux families of Norman descent.
The Perleys have a rich history of establishing New England towns Watertown and Dedham Massachusetts and Dover New Hampshire, which are known today as some of the most active separate municipalities in the country.
Whether you are from a small town in Massachusetts, a rural area in Great Britain, or a bustling city in Nova Scotia, the name Perley carries a long history of distinct ancestry with a unique heritage to be proud of.
Variations of the surname Perley
The surname Perley is an English and Welsh-origin name. It is believed to be derived from a personal name or location, with its original spelling being Pearlie. Variants and spellings of Perley include Perlie, Pearley, Pearlie, Parley, Parlee, Parlie, Pearlee, Pearlie and Purlee.
The surname can also be used as a variant of Paris, derived from the Latin first name "Peregrinus", meaning "traveler". Variants of Paris include Parris, Parrish, Paris, Paries, Parys and Paryce.
In Wales, the name Perlea is derived from the Welsh word "Perlydd", meaning "sprinkling". Other variants of Perley in Welsh include Perlie, Perle, Perles, Perla, Parley, Parlee and Parlies.
All of these different forms of Perley originated as a patronymic surname, meaning they were derived from the personal name of a father or ancestor. This suggests that the original spelling of Perley was used as early as the 16th century, when surnames began to appear in England and Wales.
Today, the surname is still fairly common in England and Wales. It can be found in records as far back as the 15th century, suggesting it has been in use for many generations. It is also popular in other Anglo-Saxon countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name Perley
- Brooke Perley: an Australian actress, best known for her role as the titular character on First Day, an award-winning Australian drama series.
- Moravian Perley: Canadian actor, writer and producer, known for his role in multiple productions such as Orphan Black and Kim’s Convenience.
- Dean Perley: American actor and producer, best known for his role in the series Dharma & Greg.
- Bill Perley: a British actor and theatre director, known for his roles in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Friday Night Dinner, and White Christmas.
- Mary Perley: an American model and actress, known for her role in the television series Life with Louie.
- Justin Perley: an American animator and film director, best known for directing the series Adventure Time.
- John Perley: a Canadian artist, best known for his landscape paintings, which earned him the Order of Canada in 2015.
- Meaghan Perley: an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for her work with the rock band the Urge.
- Peter Perley: Canadian athlete, physicist, and professor, best known for his Olympic-level performances in arm wrestling.
- Sarah Perley: British journalist and author, best known for her books on the fashion industry and her contribution to the Outsider magazine series.