Surname Pereyra - Meaning and Origin

Pereyra: What does the surname Pereyra mean?

Pereyra is a surname derived from the Portuguese and Spanish languages. The name itself originates from the Old Spanish word "Pereira," which translates to 'pear tree.' Therefore, the Pereyra surname implies that the original bearer of the name had a significant connection or lived near a notable pear tree. This might have been used as an identifier when surnames initially came into use, to distinguish between people with the same first name in the same community. It's important to note that Pereyra is a common and respected surname in a variety of Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking populations around the world.

Pereyra: Where does the name Pereyra come from?

The last name Pereyra is most commonly found in Latin America, especially in the countries of Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay and Colombia. It is also present in places such as Spain, Italy, and Portugal, presumably due to the Spanish colonization of the Americas over 500 years ago.

In the Spanish-speaking Caribbean region, the name Pereyra is also found in sizeable numbers. It is particularly noticeable in Cuba and the Dominican Republic where the population is largely of mixed Spanish American heritage.

In the United States, the last name Pereyra is much rarer. The name is most strongly concentrated in the states of California, Texas, and Florida with some pockets around the country where immigrants from Latin America have settled.

Given that the last name Pereyra is historically associated with the Spanish diaspora and current immigration patterns, it is safe to conclude that its largest presence is still in Latin America. From Mexico through Argentina, the last name continues to be a frequent part of the landscape of many towns and cities across the region.

Variations of the surname Pereyra

The surname Pereyra is derived from the Spanish name Pereira, which is of galician-portuguese origin. It is a patronymic surname, which means that it is derived from the father's given name. Pereyra is a variant spelling of Pereira, along with others such as Pereyras, Perera, Pereira and Pereiras. The surname may also appear as variants Perey, Pery, Peary, Pêreyra-Pereira, Petro, Pedreira, Pereire and Peraira.

In some countries, the Pereyra surname is commonly found with double surnames. Common double surnames include Pereyra-Pereira, Pereyra-de-San-Juan, Pereyra-de-Vruges, Pereyra-de-Quintana, Pereyra-Gorosabel, Pereyra-García and Pereyra-Delgadillo.

The surname is also found in various other variations across different countries and cultures. In France, it may be spelt Paris or Parisot; in Italy, Parizi or Parizio; in Portugal, Pereirão; in Romania, Piruteanu or Pere - rea. In Mexico, the surname Pereyra can also be found with the Aztec origin of Tlaxcala.

The meaning of the surname Pereyra has varied interpretations. In Portuguese, it translates to ‘rock’, while in Spanish it describes someone from the town of Pereira or ‘pears’. It may also have derived from the Portuguese name Pedro or ‘celestial rock’.

No matter the origin or spelling of the surname, it is an important part of the cultural heritage of the family that bears it.

Famous people with the name Pereyra

• Roberto Pereyra: An Argentine professional footballer who plays for Watford and the Argentina national team.
• Ángel Di María Pereyra: An Argentine professional footballer who plays for Paris Saint-Germain and the Argentina national team.
• Maxi Pereyra: An Argentine professional basketball player who currently plays for Juventud de San Miguel in the Argentine Liga Nacional de Basquet.
• Bruno Pereyra: An Argentinian professional footballer who plays for Puebla F.C. in the Mexican Liga MX.
• Augusto Pereyra: A former Argentine footballer who played for many clubs in the Argentine Primera División and abroad.
• Gastón Pereyra: An Argentine footballer who plays for Delfín SC in the Ecuadorian Serie A.
• Patrick Pereyra: An Argentine professional footballer who currently plays for Western United in the Australian A-League.
• Mathías Pereyra: An Argentine footballer who currently plays for CA Mitre in the Argentine Primera Nacional.
• Luis Fernando Pereyra: A retired Brazilian footballer who played most of his career at Santos FC.
• Fermin Pereyra: A Spanish athlete who competes in Paralympic sports in the club Real Federación Española Deportes.

Other surnames

Perey