Perelman
A surname derived from the Yiddish word "perel" meaning pearl or pearl merchant.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 754 Americans carry the last name Perelman. That puts it at #34,801 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.22 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 454,581 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Perelman surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
754
1 in 454,581
Census rank
#34,801
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
649
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 649 bearers of the surname Perelman in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.22 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 34801st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Perelman, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Perelman
The surname Perelman has its origins in the Russian language, derived from the word "peregon," which means "to drive" or "to chase." It is believed to have emerged in the 14th or 15th century in regions of modern-day Russia and Ukraine.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Perelman name can be found in the Velvet Book, a collection of documents from the Grand Duchy of Moscow, dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to have initially referred to individuals involved in herding or driving livestock.
In the 17th century, the Perelman surname appeared in various historical records, including tax registers and court documents, particularly in the areas around Moscow and Kiev. During this period, the name may have also been associated with individuals who worked as coachmen or drivers for aristocratic families.
A notable figure bearing the Perelman surname was Grigory Perelman, a Russian mathematician born in 1966, who is renowned for his groundbreaking work on the Poincaré conjecture. His proof, published in 2002 and 2003, earned him the prestigious Fields Medal, although he declined to accept the award.
Another prominent individual with this surname was Yakov Perelman, a Russian author and physicist born in 1882. He is celebrated for his popular science books, which aimed to make complex scientific concepts accessible to a wider audience.
In the 19th century, the Perelman name appeared in various records across Eastern Europe, including Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine. One notable example is Chaim Perelman, a Polish-Belgian philosopher and logician born in 1912, who made significant contributions to the study of rhetoric and argumentation theory.
The Perelman surname can also be traced back to Jewish communities in Eastern Europe, where it may have originated as a variant of the Hebrew name "Perel" or "Perl," meaning "pearl."
Throughout history, the Perelman name has been associated with individuals from diverse fields, including mathematics, science, philosophy, and literature, reflecting the versatility and adaptability of this surname across various cultures and regions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Perelman
Among Census respondents with the surname Perelman, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Perelman bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Perelman surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.0%
- Hispanic or Latino3.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Perelman surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #34,801 | #34,801 | 0.0% |
| Count | 649 | 649 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.22 | 0.22 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Perelman bearers went from 649 to 649 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #34,801 to #34,801.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Perelman
FAQ
Perelman surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Perelman?
The surname Perelman holds position #34,801 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 754 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.22 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Perelman surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Perelman, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.