The Perre & Perry Families

A Comprehensive History of the Surname Perre

& Modern variations of the name Perre including Perry, Perri and Perrie and Parry.

Although some genealogists are adamant the surname is Welsh and imported to England others believe Perre can be either English or Welsh in origin. There are also two common beliefs for the original name meaning: It can be derived from Middle English perrie meaning “pear tree”, or else from Welsh ap Herry, meaning “son of HENRY”.

The most common belief is that Perry is originally a Norman name from the area that is now France that was then part of Normandy. Normandy was a Viking settlement established in the early 900s. While the Vikings were kept out of England by the Anglo Saxons for most of the 900s, near the beginning of the 10th century they made inroads into the Hampshire area of England.

The Norman Conquest of 1066 saw mass emigration to what is now known as England from Normandy, which at the time would have been geographically placed in Northern France. The Normans were Vikings and thus also had Germanic and English language and cultural influences. The first Perry’s in recorded history are found in Hampshire, Southern England and across the Channel from Northern France. Here the Perry family held a family seat and owned lands granted by Duke William of Normandy for service in the Battle of Hastings in 1066 AD, as recorded in the Doomesday Book produced by William the 1st of England.

During Danish rule of England the Saxon royal family resided in Normandy and intermarried with the Duke of Normandy’s family, this period precluded the Norman conquest of England. The Normans ruled until the 12th century and a number of Perry’s were members of this ruling class. When rule was lost to the Normans a significant number of Perry’s emigrated to the geographical area that constituted Ireland and here there are recorded names of over 1000 Perry’s (descendants of Perry) concentrated in the areas of Ulster and Down.

The word perie, from which the name is derived, means literally and quite simply – pear tree, in the dialect of French spoken in Normandy in the 1000s. The first Perry probably lived near a pear tree. The name Perry evolved into several modern versions including Perri and Perrie which are common names around the world. The alteration of names is a common occurrence particularly with European names that became anglicized in the New World.

The next notable historical record of the Perry family name, Norman Perre, is a record of the family name in 1086 as a tenant in chief. The Perry name is also recorded on the Roll of Battell Abbey. It appears that the Perry family name then branched off to the Gloucestershire and Devon regions of England where they had a family seat at Walter. Records suggest they were also landowners in Cornwall, Worcestershire, and Buckinghamshire. In Warwickshire their seat was at Bitham House.

Many Perry’s settled in Ireland where the family history is a rich tapestry of nobles, viscounts and Earls of Limerick. In 1890, a birth census of Scottish families in Ireland showed over 1,030 people bearing the surname Perry throughout Ireland; about 43 percent were living in the province of Ulster where the families were found in Down. The New World also beckoned a people weary of the turmoil at home. Despite the dangers of the journey, bearers of the Perry family name sailed to the newly discovered colonies in the Americas in order to start a new life.

Settlers with the Perry surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Thomas Perry who settled in Virginia in 1635; Elizabeth and Edward Perry settled in Virginia in 1637; Eben Perry settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1767 with his wife and two children; Henry and George Perry settled in Boston in 1651; Isaac Perry settled in Salem in 1631.

Many settlers also immigrated to Canada following the American Revolution, when Canada became a haven to thousands of families loyal to the British crown. The greatest influx of immigrants to the United States occurred between the 1840s and the 1920s. Between these years, around 37 million immigrants arrived in the United States.

North American Perre Descendants

Many American Perre descendants come directly from immigrants to North America on the Mayflower. This is an historical fact of note. From these descendants a prominence of American Perrys emerged.

The Chesapeake House of Perry began in 1624 when the King presented entrepreneurial merchants with new opportunities by revoking the charter of the Virginia Company opening up the sale of tobacco. Richard Perry (1580-1650) saw an opportunity and entered the tobacco industry. By the end of the century Perry’s stood out amongst Virginia trading merchants and by the 1960s they were one of the leading merchant families in the tobacco industry.

On December 7th, 1813, Stark County Commissioners named Township 10, Range 9, in Ohio, Perry Township. The name is derived from Oliver Hazard Perry who was the Lake Erie American Fleet Commander and hero of the War of 1812. Commander Perry was the victor of a battle on Lake Erie on September 10th, 1812.

Over in the state of Georgia we find the quaint city of Perry. Founded in 1821 through a treaty with the Creek Indians, Houston (pronounced “Howston”) County extended from the Ocmulgee River on the eastern boundary to the Flint River on the western boundary. Incorporated in 1824, This Perry place name was also to commemorate Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry for his triumph at Lake Erie in the War of 1812. Perry still serves as the county seat of Houston County.

States in the US with a town named Perry:

  • Perry, Arkansas
  • Perry, Florida
  • Perry, Georgia
  • Perry, Iowa
  • Perry, Illinois
  • Perry, Kansas
  • Perry, Louisiana
  • Perry, Maine
  • Perry, Michigan
  • Perry, Missouri
  • Perry, New York
  • Perry, Ohio
  • Perry, Oklahoma
  • Perry, Texas

The Anglo-English Perre Descendents

There are a number of Perrys in England all originating from the Old English word pirige meaning ‘pear tree’; this is documented as Pirio in 1086.

“The manor of Perry was an area of Anglican settlement, part of the kingdom of Mercia from c585 and at the southern tip of Staffordshire from the early 900s. This evidence suggests that the Perre family emerged from England as well as from the Viking Welsh. In common with most of the Birmingham manors, Perry passed into Norman hands after the Conquest and was held by Drogo from William FitzAnsculf. In 1323 Margaret de Sutton, one of William FitzAnsculf’s descendants, inherited Perry as tenant-in-chief, after which there is no further record of the overlordship.

Perry Barr was the northern half of the ancient parish of Handsworth lying on rising ground north-east of the River Tame. A lordship here was held by the de Birmingham family. In 1284, Richard of Perry held part of Perry from William de Birmingham who in turn held it of Roger de Somery, another of William FitzAnsculf’s descendants. In a court case in 1346 Fulk de Birmingham sued his tenant for service: the service due was agreed as the annual gift of a rose. There is no further reference to the de Birmingham holding.

In 1242 William of Perry held Perry of Roger de Somery. The manor passed down the family but not smoothly. Records of a number of court cases over some fifty years are evidence of disputes between the Perrys and the Wyrleys to the title of the manor. However, in 1356 Roger Hillary was the tenant of property in Perry and Hamstead which belonged to Philip of Perry as lord of the manor. It is unclear how the manor came into the hands of the Thomas, Earl of Warwick, but on the accession of Henry IV in 1399, his rights were reaffirmed. Perry then descended with the earls of Warwick to the Duke of Clarence who in 1478 forfeited it to the Crown.” (http://www.bmagic.org.uk/objects/1976V227 )

Your browser may not support display of this image. Perry Hall. Image from Matthew Beckett’s website ‘Lost Heritage – Lost Country Houses of England’ used under the copyright statement on that website.

Perry Trivia

Perry is an alcoholic drink which is similar to cider but made of fermented pear juice, usually brewed to an alcohol by volume percentage of around 8.5%. Perry has been common for centuries in Britain, particularly in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire as well as in parts of Wales and France, especially Normandyand Anjou.

The name Perry is a common last name. It’s the 84th most common surname in the United States according to the 1990 U.S. Census.

The Perry coat of arms depicts a shield divided quarterly, red and gold, with three blue lions passant on a silver bend.

The Perry crest is a hind’s head erased, holding in its mouth a pear tree sprig.

The ancient family motto for the Perry name is Recte agens confido, translated into English,

While acting uprightly I am confident.

Famous persons:

Celebrities with Perry as a last name:

  • Gaylord Perry (Hall of Fame baseball player)
  • Joe Perry (Hall of Fame football player)
  • Joe Perry (musician, “Aerosmith”)
  • Luke Perry (actor, “Beverly Hills 90210″)
  • Matthew Perry (actor, “Friends”)
  • William Perry (football player)
  • Anne Perry (writer)
  • Barry W. Perry (Business)
  • Belle Perry (published author)
  • Bob Perry (baseball player)
  • Boyd Perry (baseball player)
  • Brandon Perry (football player)
  • Bruce Perry (football player)
  • Linda Perry (singer/songwriter, “4 Non-Blondes”)
  • Steve Perry (singer/musician, “Journey”)
  • Katy Perry (singer/songwriter)

Other Famous Perry’s

  • A famous bearer of the surname was Matthew Perry (1794-1858), the American naval officer who opened Japan to the West.
  • Oliver Hazard Perry, another American Naval Commander.
  • Sir Walter Perry, Physician;
  • Frank Perry, Film Director;
  • Samuel Perry, Biochemist;
  • Fred Perry (b.1933) tennis player;
  • Aylesworth Perry, longest-serving Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police;
  • Charles Perry, New Zealand Librarian;
  • Kenneth Perry, British Physician;
  • Chris Perry, English footballer;
  • Edward A Perry, American politician, Governor of Florida;
  • James Richard Perry, American politician, Governor of Texas;
  • Antionette Perry, American actress & director, founder of the Tony Awards;
  • William James Perry (b.1927) U.S. Secretary of Defense (1994–97) and recipient of the residential Medal of Freedom;
  • Oliver Perry (1785-1819) American military leader;
  • Bill Perry, American musician; and
  • Fred Perry (b.1909) American tennis player.