Parish first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Parish has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Parish

A French word referring to an ecclesiastical territory or district.

Popularity of Parish by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Parish is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 70% of people named Parish being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 8 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Parish.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 8 0
2022 12 0
2021 6 0
2020 9 5
2019 0 8
2018 9 0
2017 5 6
2016 17 9
2015 13 6
2014 10 9
2013 10 8
2012 9 12
2011 17 9
2010 11 14
2009 12 10
2008 7 8
2007 6 9
2006 7 11
2005 13 9
2004 9 0
2003 11 8
2002 10 0
2001 12 8
2000 24 9
1999 11 9
1998 16 6
1997 14 10
1996 8 9
1995 15 7
1994 31 12
1993 43 11
1992 34 19
1991 43 13
1990 23 6
1989 16 9
1988 15 5
1987 17 5
1986 14 7
1985 13 0
1984 15 0
1983 6 0
1982 13 0
1981 10 0
1980 6 0
1979 10 0
1978 11 0
1977 12 5
1976 9 0
1975 18 0
1974 17 0

The history of the first name Parish

The name Parish originated from the Old French word "paroche", which in turn derived from the Late Latin word "parochia". This word meant a group of people living within the bounds of a single church district. The name Parish is therefore closely linked to the ecclesiastical concept of a parish, which is a territory under the guidance of a single priest or pastor.

Parish was initially used as a surname in medieval England, referring to someone who lived within a particular church parish or was associated with the parish church. Over time, it transitioned into being used as a given name, especially among English and French speakers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of Parish as a first name can be found in the 16th century. In 1583, Parish Treveris, an English writer and translator, was born. He is best known for his translation of Gervase Markham's work on husbandry and agriculture.

In the 17th century, Parish Alvey (1618-1691) was an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Master of the Temple Church in London. He was a prominent figure in the Church of England during the Restoration period.

Moving into the 18th century, Parish Rivington (1720-1761) was an English publisher and bookseller based in London. He is credited with publishing some of the works of Samuel Johnson and other notable authors of the time.

Fast forward to the 19th century, and we have Parish Alvars Haden (1792-1858), an English artist and engraver. He was a pioneering figure in the field of printmaking and is renowned for his landscape etchings.

Lastly, in the 20th century, Parish Robertson (1929-2009) was an American actor and singer. He appeared in numerous Broadway productions and television shows, including a recurring role in the soap opera "The Doctors".

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who carried the name Parish throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence across various fields and time periods.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Parish was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Parish, please contact us.

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Parish first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 8, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/parish-meaning-and-history/.

"Parish first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/parish-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 8 June, 2025

Parish first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/parish-meaning-and-history/.

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