Surname Perey - Meaning and Origin
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Perey: What does the surname Perey mean?
The last name Perey is a French occupational surname, derived from "perrier," the French word for "well digger". As such, the name would have first been used to denote someone who made their living digging wells. It is likely that as more and more people took the name, it became somewhat less closely associated with the original profession.
Throughout France, the name Perey is still quite common. In rural areas where the traditional trades still endure, it is likely that at least some of the bearers of the name still work as well diggers.
In the rest of France, however, it has likely taken on a more general meaning, simply denoting someone who is considered to have an old-fashioned character and whose life is centered around traditional values. The French often uses family names to indicate an individual's character traits, which could explain the connection between Perey and those with a more traditionalist outlook.
In the United States, the name Perey is relatively rare. Those who have it often have immigrant ancestry from France or French-speaking areas, or are descended from settlers in the French colonies. Whether or not the traditional associations of the name remain, the name Perey is a reminder of the cultural ties between French-speaking lands across the world.
Order DNA origin analysisPerey: Where does the name Perey come from?
The last name Perey is a common Spanish surname with roots in the name "Pereyra". Though the spelling may vary, the Perey name appears to originate in areas around the former Iberian kingdom, ruling today's countries of Spain and Portugal. This surname is especially common in the countries of Peru and Argentina. In Peru, the last name has experienced a tremendous growth in the past 10 years, placing it in the top 30 surnames in the country.
In Argentina, Perey is the seventy-seventh most common surname. This is primarily because of the country's large Spanish immigrant population. It is likely the name has been in Argentina since the Spanish colonization in the early 16th century. The name is especially common in the Greater Buenos Aires area.
Outside of South America, the surname is spread around the world; however, it appears to be most common in South American countries. In the United States, the last name is not overly popular, but it can still be found among the Latino population. It can also be found in France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and many other countries.
Overall, the surname Perey is quite common in areas with a heavy Spanish-speaking population. However, this is not an overly popular name in the United States, though it can still be found.
Variations of the surname Perey
The surname Perey can be found in many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variations are generally from different regions, cultures, and languages.
For example, some of the most common variations of Perey include: Perea, Pereira, Pereyra, Pererra, Pereiro, Pereerro, Pereyor, Pereyrro, Pereye, Peryea, Perrye, Peryez, and Peryez.
In Spanish, the surname Perey can be spelled as Pérez, Pereza, or Peres. In Italian, variations of Perey can be found as Pyri or Pirelli.
In French, the surname Perey can be spelled as: Peiret, Peirez, Perey, Péry, Perye, Pérye, Péré, or Péren. In Hungarian, Perey can be spelled as Péri or Péry.
In addition, there are also many similarly sounding surnames originating from a variety of countries and cultures, such as Parry (Welsh), Perry (English), and Bérubé (French-Canadian).
Overall, the popularity of the surname Perey is global and it continues to live on through its various spellings and origins. Although some variants may sound different, most of the variations listed here share the same origin and bear a similar meaning.
Famous people with the name Perey
- Paulette Perey: French figure skater; competed in the 1972 Winter Olympics and won eight French championships titles.
- Edgar Perey: American entrepreneur, real estate magnate, and philanthropist.
- Margaret Keane: American painter and entrepreneur, best known for painting the wide-eyed waifs, a style she developed in the 1950s.
- Mira Perey: Israeli actress who starred in Hollywood films and a number of stage productions.
- Montserrat Caballé: Spanish soprano best known for her elaborate interpretation of the operatic repertoire.
- Leonard Perey: British sportsman and Olympic cyclist who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.
- Gilles de Perey: French diplomat who served as an ambassador to Romania and France.
- Alice Perey: American actress and Broadway performer who appeared in a number of musicals.
- Gaétan Perey: French polymath and mathematician who contributed to game theory and the fields of number theory, algebra, and geometry.
- Philippe Pérey: French classical pianist and professor of piano at the École Normale de Musique de Paris.