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

Perrin, 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 Perrin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Perrin in America

Perrin is the 3121st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Perrin surname appeared 11,550 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Perrin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Perrin 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 Perrin

The surname Perrin has its origins in France, tracing back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "perrin," which means a small rock or pebble. This name was likely given as a nickname to someone who lived near a rocky area or had a connection with stone quarrying or masonry.

The earliest recorded mention of the Perrin surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Perin" in the records for Hertfordshire, England. This suggests that the name may have been introduced to England by Norman settlers after the conquest in 1066.

During the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various spellings such as Perrin, Perren, and Perron. These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in record-keeping and regional dialects at the time. The name was particularly prevalent in the Normandy region of France and parts of England, where many Perrin families established themselves.

One notable early bearer of the Perrin name was Jacques Perrin (c. 1490-1554), a French Protestant reformer and theologian. He was a prominent figure in the Reformation movement and played a significant role in the spread of Protestant teachings in France.

In the 17th century, François Perrin (1590-1670) was a French mathematician and physicist who made contributions to the study of optics and the nature of light. He is best known for his collaboration with Blaise Pascal in conducting experiments on the vacuum and atmospheric pressure.

During the American Revolutionary War, Etienne Perrin (1745-1808) was a French-born soldier who fought alongside the Continental Army. He served as a captain in the Pulaski Legion and was later awarded land grants in Pennsylvania for his service.

In the literary world, Marie-Anne Perrin (1790-1860) was a French novelist and playwright who wrote under the pen name "Eugène de Mirecourt." Her works explored social issues and the lives of women in 19th-century France.

Another notable Perrin was Émile Perrin (1814-1904), a French operatic tenor and teacher. He had a successful career performing at the Paris Opera and later became a renowned voice instructor, teaching many famous singers of his time.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the Perrin surname who left their mark on history. The name has endured through the centuries, carrying the legacy of its French origins and the diverse accomplishments of those who bore it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Perrin

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

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

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

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