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

Pernell, 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 Pernell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pernell in America

Pernell is the 11135th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pernell surname appeared 2,845 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Pernell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pernell 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 Pernell

The surname Pernell is believed to have originated in England, possibly during the late medieval period or the early modern era. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from a place name, indicating that the earliest bearers of this surname hailed from a particular town or village.

One theory suggests that the name Pernell may have evolved from the Old English words "pyran" and "hyll," meaning "pear tree" and "hill," respectively. This could indicate that the name originated from a place where pear trees grew on a hill or a similar geographical feature. However, the exact origins of the name remain uncertain.

Some early records mention individuals with the surname Pernell, although specific dates and details are scarce. One notable reference is found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This ancient manuscript may have included individuals with variations of the Pernell surname or related place names.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Pernell was Sir Thomas Pernell, who lived in the 14th century and served as a knight and courtier during the reign of King Edward III (1312-1377). Another notable figure was William Pernell, a merchant and landowner who lived in the 15th century and was involved in local affairs in the county of Somerset.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named John Pernell (c. 1520-1578) was a renowned English composer and organist. He served as a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal and is known for his contributions to the development of English church music during the Tudor period.

During the 17th century, the name Pernell appears in various records, including those of Sir Francis Pernell (1620-1698), a Member of Parliament for Somerset and a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, a notable individual named Robert Pernell (1726-1801) was a successful merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol. He played a significant role in the city's commercial and civic affairs.

Throughout history, the surname Pernell has been associated with various place names and older spellings. For instance, it may have been derived from places like Parnell in Gloucestershire or Parnell in Wiltshire, or it could be connected to other locations with similar-sounding names. The surname has also been spelled in various ways, such as Parnell, Parnall, and Pernall, among others.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pernell

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

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

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

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