PERCY
Percy
Percy is an ancient English surname derived from the place name Percy in Normandy, France. The surname first appeared in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Percy family rose to prominence in the North of England, particularly in Northumberland, where they held vast estates.
Origin and Meaning: The surname Percy is of Old French origin, derived from the place name "Perci" in Normandy. It is believed to mean "pierce" or "piercer", possibly referring to a sharp or piercing individual.
Historical Significance: The Percy family played a significant role in English history. The most famous member of the family is Henry Percy, known as "Hotspur", a renowned knight and military commander during the 14th century. The Percys were a prominent noble family, holding the title of Earl of Northumberland for several generations.
Modern Distribution and Variants: The surname Percy is relatively rare today, with concentrations in the North of England. Variants of the surname include de Percy, Perci, and Percie.
Notable Individuals: In addition to Henry Percy, the Percys have included numerous notable individuals over the centuries, such as Thomas Percy, a prominent Elizabethan conspirator, and Hugh Percy, a British general during the American Revolutionary War.
Coat of Arms: The Percy family coat of arms features a lion rampant. The motto "Esperance en Dieu" (Hope in God) is associated with the family.
Legacy: The Percy family remains a symbol of English aristocracy and history, with their ancestral seat at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland attracting visitors from around the world.
In conclusion, the surname Percy holds a distinguished place in British history, representing a noble lineage with ties to Norman origins and significant contributions to the nation's heritage.
There are approximately 3,496 people named Percy in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,623rd most common surname in Britain. Around 54 in a million people in Britain are named Percy.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Richard
- Robert
- William
Female
- Deborah
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Joan
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Sharon
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Pearcy
- Pursey
- Purse
- Piercy
- Percey
- Pearcey
- Parkey
- Pearsey
- Parcy
- Parcey
- Parky
- Pearsy
- Pecry
- Precy
- Perca
- Parc
- Parsey
- Parsy
- Pearco
- Peark
- Peercy
- Peircey
- Peircy
- Perci
- Percie
- Percik
- Peric
- Perice
- Perick
- Perk
- Perke
- Perkey
- Perkis
- Perks
- Perky
- Perkyn
- Persey
- Persic
- Persy
- Piearcey
- Piercey
- Pirc
- Pircey
- Porc
- Porecki
- Pracey
- Pracy
- Precey
- Preecy
- Pressey
- Pressy
- Pricey
- Purcey
- Purcy
- Purkey
- Purssey
- Pursy
- Purzey
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.