PERRIN

Perrin is a surname of French origin, largely transmitted in the British Isles through the Norman influence and later through Huguenot immigration.

The surname is derived from the given name Pierre, the French form of the Greek Petros meaning rock or stone. In its English context, it is a patronymic designation that literally signifies son of Pierre or descendant of Pierre. The name was popularised in medieval Christendom largely because of St. Peter, whose reputation as a foundational figure of the Church was echoed in the familiar Latin phrase, “Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church.”

Recorded spellings of the surname are varied, including Parrin, Perin, Perrin, Pering, Perrins, Perron, Perrun and others. These variants arise from the diminutive form Perrin, a diminutive of Pierre or Perre, and illustrate the tendency for medieval scribes to alter spellings in accordance with phonetic perception and local dialectal influences.

The earliest documented appearance of the name in England dates to 1166, when a ‘John Pirun’ was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire during the reign of King Henry I. Subsequent early examples include Geoffrey Perrun of Lincolnshire in the Knight Templar rolls of 1185, Henry Piron of Oxfordshire in 1194, John Pirun of Wiltshire in 1255 and John Perin of Cambridgeshire in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. These entries show the spread of the surname across a range of counties in the English Middle Ages.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, several bearers of the name may be traced back to French Huguenot refugees who arrived in Britain to escape religious persecution. Notable examples are Marin Perin, christened at the Threadneedle French Huguenot Church in London in 1639, and Michael Perring, who married Mary Spencer at St Mary’s Tottenham in 1702.

As a surname, Perrin remains common in England today and can be found in several spelling forms. Its persistence across centuries reflects both its early establishment and its continued use among families who retain an awareness of their ancestral linguistic and cultural links to France and the broader Christian tradition.

Typical given names associated with the Perrin surname

Male

• Andrew
• Anthony
• Christopher
• David
• John
• Mark
• Michael
• Richard
• Robert
• William

Female

• Claire
• Elizabeth
• Julie
• Karen
• Linda
• Lisa
• Margaret
• Nicola
• Rebecca
• Sarah
• Susan
• Victoria

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 Perrin in...

Braille

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Morse

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Semaphore

Surname type: Diminutive

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Perrin

• Ronald Edward Perrin - Musician (1931 to 1997)
• Percy Perrin - Cricketer (1876 to 1945)
• Stephen Perrin - Cricketer and football player
• Norman Perrin - Theologian (1920 to 1976)
• Steve Perrin - Association football player

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.

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