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

Perko, 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 Perko surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Perko in America

Perko is the 25555th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Perko surname appeared 966 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 Perko.

We can also compare 2010 data for Perko 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 Perko

The surname Perko is believed to have originated in Croatia, with the earliest records dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Croatian word "perkovic," which means "son of Perko." Perko itself may have been a diminutive form of the name Peter or a nickname based on physical characteristics.

In the coastal regions of Dalmatia and Istria, where the name first appeared, various spellings such as Perkov, Perkovich, and Perkovic were common. The name's prevalence in these areas suggests that it may have been associated with fishing communities or maritime trades.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name Perko can be found in the records of the Republic of Ragusa (modern-day Dubrovnik) in the late 16th century. A merchant named Ivan Perko is mentioned in a document from 1587, indicating the name's presence in the city's trading circles.

In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the name was Jure Perko (1735-1812), a Croatian painter and fresco artist who worked extensively in the region of Istria. His works can still be seen in churches and buildings throughout the area, reflecting the artistic talents associated with the Perko name.

As the name spread beyond Croatia, it took on various forms in different languages. In Italy, for instance, the surname became Perco or Percovich, while in Slovenia, it was adapted as Perkovic or Perkovic.

One of the most famous individuals with the Perko surname was Vinko Perko (1913-1967), a Croatian sculptor and painter known for his modernist works. His sculptures can be found in public spaces throughout Croatia, and he is celebrated as a prominent figure in the country's art scene.

Another notable bearer of the name was Jožef Perko (1899-1975), a Slovenian politician and writer who served as the first President of the Presidency of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia from 1963 to 1967.

In the United States, the Perko name can be traced back to Croatian immigrants who arrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often settling in industrial cities like Chicago and Pittsburgh. One of the earliest recorded Perkos in America was Ante Perko, who was born in Croatia in 1884 and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s.

While the name Perko may have originated in a specific region of Croatia, it has since spread across various cultures and countries, carried by individuals who have left their mark in fields ranging from art and literature to politics and commerce.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Perko

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

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

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

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