Find out how popular the last name Perigo is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Perigo.

Perigo, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Perigo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Perigo in America

Perigo is the 31689th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Perigo surname appeared 729 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Perigo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Perigo to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Perigo

The surname Perigo has its origins in Spain, tracing back to the medieval period around the 12th century. It is derived from the Spanish word "peligro," meaning "danger" or "peril." This suggests that the name may have been initially assigned as a descriptive nickname or occupational name for someone whose work or lifestyle involved facing hazardous situations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Perigo surname can be found in the Libro de la Montera, a medieval Spanish manuscript from the late 13th century. This document lists various noble families and their heraldic symbols, including a family bearing the Perigo name.

In the 14th century, there are records of a Gonzalo Perigo, a nobleman from the region of Castile, who participated in the Reconquista – the campaign to drive out the Moors from the Iberian Peninsula. His military exploits and bravery in the face of danger may have contributed to the significance of the family name.

During the 16th century, the Perigo name appeared in various parts of Spain, including Andalusia and Catalonia. One notable bearer of the name was Juan Perigo, a poet and playwright born in Seville in 1548. His works, while not widely renowned, provided a glimpse into the cultural and literary landscape of Renaissance Spain.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Perigo family settled in the Canary Islands, where the name evolved into the variant spelling "Perigó." One prominent figure from this lineage was Tomás Perigó, a merchant and ship owner born in Las Palmas in 1742. His maritime ventures and travels across the Atlantic Ocean contributed to the spread of the Perigo name to the Americas.

As the Spanish Empire expanded its reach, the Perigo surname made its way to the New World. In the late 18th century, records show a Juan Perigo who was a landowner and cattle rancher in the region of modern-day Argentina. His descendants continued to carry on the family name and legacy in South America.

Throughout history, the Perigo surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, ranging from military figures and poets to merchants and landowners. While not a widely renowned name, its roots in the Iberian Peninsula and connection to the concept of "danger" or "peril" have given it a unique and intriguing historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Perigo

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Perigo.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Perigo was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Perigo has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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