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

Perilla, 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 Perilla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Perilla in America

Perilla is the 60505th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Perilla surname appeared 333 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 Perilla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Perilla 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 Perilla

The surname Perilla has its origins in Spain, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Spanish word "perilla," which means a small, ornamental tuft or tassel. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who wore a distinctive tassel or adornment on their clothing or accessories.

In the early records, the name was sometimes spelled as "Perilla" or "Perillia," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time. The earliest known reference to the surname Perilla appears in a document from the region of Aragon, dated around 1180.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Perilla was Don Rodrigo Perilla, a nobleman from the city of Zaragoza, who lived in the late 13th century. He was known for his participation in the Reconquista, the centuries-long struggle to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Moorish rule.

Another notable figure was Doña Isabel Perilla, a wealthy landowner from the town of Calatayud in Aragon, who lived in the mid-15th century. Historical records indicate that she donated a significant portion of her estate to the local church and monastery.

In the 16th century, the Perilla family established a presence in the region of Andalusia, particularly in the city of Seville. One prominent member was Juan Perilla, a merchant and trader who was involved in the lucrative trade with the Spanish colonies in the Americas.

During the 17th century, a branch of the Perilla family migrated to the Spanish colonies in the New World, settling in various regions of Mexico and Peru. One notable figure from this period was Fray Diego Perilla, a Franciscan friar who established several missions in the region of New Mexico and is credited with converting many indigenous people to Christianity.

As the Perilla surname spread across Spain and its colonies, it also gave rise to various place names and toponyms. For example, there is a small village called Perilla in the province of Burgos, which may have been named after an early settler with the same surname.

While the surname Perilla is not among the most common in Spain or Latin America, it has left a modest yet distinctive mark on the history and culture of these regions, reflecting the diverse influences and migrations that have shaped the Hispanic world over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Perilla

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

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 Perilla 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 Perilla 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 Perilla was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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