Surname Perlmutter - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Perlmutter: What does the surname Perlmutter mean?
The last name "Perlmutter" is of Ashkenazic Jewish origin, deriving from the German words "Perle" which means "pearl" and "Mutter" which means "mother". Essentially, it translates to "mother of pearl" or "pearl mother". The name may have initially been used as an occupational surname referring to someone who traded in pearls or mother of pearls. It could also be a metaphorical reference to a person's attributes, but its exact historical context isn't clear. Jewish surnames became a necessity after the Middle Ages for the purpose of taxation in the Holy Roman Empire, and were often derived from places, personal names, nicknames, or occupations. It's important to note that variations of the spelling exist among different families.
Order DNA origin analysisPerlmutter: Where does the name Perlmutter come from?
Perlmutter is a German/Jewish surname which comes from Germany. The name is formed from the German words "Perle" meaning "pearl" and "Mutter" meaning "mother." It was likely a name bestowed upon someone who was a mother of exceptional worth or perhaps a woman who sold pearls.
Today, the surname Perlmutter is found in various parts of the world, particularly in regions that witnessed Jewish diaspora. While it is not extremely common, it is more frequently encountered in countries such as the United States, Canada, Israel, and parts of Europe, including Germany, where its usage was highest historically. People with the Perlmutter surname can be found in most areas where there are populations of Ashkenazi Jews, as they were most likely to have carried and passed on the name from generations since Middle Ages. It is also commonly associated with people of Jewish descent living globally due to historical movements and persecution.
Variations of the surname Perlmutter
The surname Perlmutter has Jewish origins, specifically Ashkenazic Jewish. It's derived from "perl" (pearl) and "mutter" (mother). The name was possibly a nickname or an occupational name for a dealer in pearls.
Variants are not common due to the unique nature of the surname, but you might occasionally encounter variations in spelling, especially in countries outside of Germany where it originated. The surname can sometimes be spelled as Peerlmutter, Pearlmuter, Perlmudder, or Perlemuter. If the name is anglicized, it may appear as Pearlman or Perlman, although these are distinct surnames and may not be directly related.
In addition to this, different families with the name Perlmutter may not be related, as Ashkenazic Jewish surnames were often adopted relatively recently in their history. Perlmutter families from different regions in Europe may have adopted the name independently. Genealogical research, therefore, can be challenging for this surname, and genetic (DNA) testing may be the best option for accurately tracing the family history.
As with many surnames in the Jewish diaspora, there isn't one authoritative list of family names and variations because of regional differences and immigration records, which may have altered or simplified the spellings.
Famous people with the name Perlmutter
- Isaac Perlmutter: American businessman and billionaire, former Marvel Entertainment CEO.
- Lewis Perlmutter: American author, filmmaker and producer.
- Harvey Perlmutter: Former Chairman of the Estee Lauder Foundation.
- Mark Israeli Perlmutter: American judge, currently serving as a judge in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.
- Richard Perlmutter: American musician, composer and actor best known for writing and performing music for several animated television shows such as The Simpsons, Futurama, Hey Arnold!, and others.
- Sol L. Perlmutter: American theatre producer.
- Irven Lee Perlmutter: Former President and CEO of B. Altman & Company, an American department store.
- Alvin Perlmutter: American film and television director.
- Reuben Perlmutter: American philanthropist and entrepreneur.
- Martin Perlmutter: American sculptor and painter of European and American art.