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

Perk, 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 Perk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Perk in America

Perk is the 65244th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Perk surname appeared 304 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 Perk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Perk 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 Perk

The surname PERK is of English origin, with its roots dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "perk," which meant "a pointed or upright object." This word, in turn, may have originated from the Old French word "perche," meaning "a pole or perch."

The name was initially found in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the parish records of Blyth, Nottinghamshire, where a certain Thomas Perk was mentioned in 1583.

In the 17th century, the PERK surname appeared in various historical documents, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662-1666. During this period, the name was sometimes spelled as "Perke" or "Pearke," reflecting the variations in spelling common in those times.

One notable figure bearing the PERK surname was Sir Robert Perk (1622-1689), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire in the late 17th century. Another prominent individual was John Perk (1735-1808), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the original premises of the Royal Academy of Arts.

In the 18th century, the PERK surname spread to other parts of the British Isles, with records indicating individuals bearing the name in Scotland and Ireland. One such individual was William Perk (1778-1845), a Scottish poet and author who wrote several works on Scottish history and culture.

As the British Empire expanded, the PERK surname also found its way to other parts of the world. In the 19th century, there were individuals with this surname in countries such as Australia and Canada. For instance, James Perk (1819-1892) was an Australian businessman and politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council.

Another notable figure was Robert Perk (1860-1934), a Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and was a prominent figure in the temperance movement.

While the PERK surname may not be among the most common in the world, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, architects, writers, and businesspeople, contributing to the diverse tapestry of human experiences and achievements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Perk

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

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

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

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