PERKINS
Perkins is a surname of English provenance with deep roots in Greek linguistic tradition. The name is recorded chiefly in the British Isles, particularly in England, where it is borne by families of Christian faith and is classified as a patronymic derived from the name of a parent.
The etymology of Perkins traces to the medieval personal name Perkin, itself a diminutive of Peter. The name Peter originates from the Greek word petros, meaning “rock”. Consequently, the surname conveys the meaning “son of Peter” or “descendant of Peter”, indicating lineage from an ancestor who bore the Christian forename.
The development of the surname reflects a complex interaction of linguistic influences. Introduced into Britain at the Norman Invasion of 1066 and reinforced by returning Crusaders in the twelfth century, the name incorporates Old French elements and ultimately Greek origin. The basic element Per or Par was combined with the diminutive suffix kin, denoting a close relationship such as “son” or “nephew”, and the plural suffix s, a shortened form of “son”. Variants recorded in medieval documents include Parkins, Purkins, the longer form Parkinson and, less frequently, Perkinson. An occasional secondary origin links the name to the French word parc, suggesting an occupational meaning as a keeper of royal hunting grounds.
Early attestations of the name appear in official records. Robert Parkyn of Stafford is listed in the County Rolls of 1327, while John Perkyn of Somerset features in the Hundred Rolls of 1380. Later examples include John Perkins, who married Penelope Vaughan at St Dunstans, Stepney, London on 24 March 1599, and Sir William Perkins (also spelt Parkyns), who was executed on Tower Hill in 1696 for a plot against King William III of Orange and England.
The surname crossed the Atlantic in the early seventeenth century. James Perkyns, aged forty‑two, sailed from London to the Virginia colony aboard the ship Bonaventure on 2 January 1634, establishing the first documented American line of the family. Today, the name Perkins remains widely distributed across the United Kingdom and the United States, retaining its historic association with the ancient patronymic tradition.
Typical given names associated with the Perkins surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Gillian
- Helen
- Julie
- Karen
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Perkins in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Perkins are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Bourbon.
There are approximately 23,050 people named Perkins in the UK. That makes it the 370th most common surname in Britain. Around 354 in a million people in Britain are named Perkins.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Perkins
- Sue Perkins - Comedian
- Anthony Perkins - American actor (1932 to 1992)
- Elizabeth Perkins - Actress
- Mary Perkins - Businesswoman
- Geoffrey Perkins - Comedy writer, producer and actor (1953 to 2008)
- Toby Perkins - Politician
- Polly Perkins - Actress
- David Perkins - Football player
- Frank Perkins - Engineer (1889 to 1967)
- Mike Perkins - Comics artist
- Neil Perkins - Boxer
- Laurence Perkins - Musician
- Bill Perkins - Football player (1876 to 1940)
- John Perkins - Wales international rugby union player
- Pat Perkins - Canadian politician
- Cyril Perkins - Cricketer (1911 to 2013)
- Lijah Perkins - Basketball player
- Bill Perkins - Australian rules football player (1920 to 2009)
- Frederick Perkins - Australian schoolteacher and Anglican minister (1877 to 1960)
- Philip Perkins - Golfer (1904 to 1978)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.