Perlich
A surname likely derived from a location name in Germany or Austria.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Perlich. That puts it at #88,336 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Perlich 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
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#88,336
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
210
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 210 bearers of the surname Perlich in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 88336th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Perlich, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.6%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Perlich
The surname PERLICH is of German origin, with roots tracing back to the 14th century in the regions of Prussia and Saxony. It is derived from the German word "Perle," meaning pearl, suggesting that the name may have initially referred to a person who worked with or traded pearls.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Prussian town records of Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia) in the late 1300s, where a merchant named Hans Perlich is mentioned. The name is also found in various medieval manuscripts from the region, such as the Lübeck City Archives from the 15th century.
In the 16th century, the PERLICH surname gained prominence in the city of Leipzig, where a family of wealthy merchants and bankers bearing the name became influential. Notably, Johann Perlich (1524-1589), a prominent Leipzig businessman, served as a city councilor and was known for his philanthropy in supporting local churches and schools.
As the name spread across German-speaking regions, variations in spelling emerged, including Perlisch, Perlicher, and Perlitzsch. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the names of specific towns or villages where branches of the family settled.
One notable figure in the history of the PERLICH name was Friedrich Wilhelm Perlich (1798-1864), a German writer and journalist from Saxony. He was a prolific author of novels, plays, and travelogues, and his works were widely popular in his time.
Another historically significant individual was Karl Perlich (1867-1944), a German architect who designed several notable buildings in Berlin and other cities in the early 20th century, including the Charlottenburg Palace Theater.
In the 19th century, the PERLICH name also gained recognition in Austria, with the birth of Rudolf Perlich (1856-1924), a prominent Austrian painter and illustrator known for his landscapes and depictions of rural life.
Ernst Perlich (1899-1949), a German physicist and engineer, made contributions to the development of television technology and was involved in the early research on color television systems.
While the PERLICH surname is relatively uncommon globally, it maintains its strongest presence in German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria, where it has been documented for over six centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Perlich
Among Census respondents with the surname Perlich, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.6%.
The bar chart below shows how Perlich 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 Perlich surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White98.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Perlich 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 | #88,336 | #88,336 | 0.0% |
| Count | 210 | 210 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Perlich bearers went from 210 to 210 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #88,336 to #88,336.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Perlich
FAQ
Perlich surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Perlich?
The surname Perlich holds position #88,336 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Perlich surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Perlich, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.6%. 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.