Surname Perkins - Meaning and Origin

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A. Perkins

Perkins: What does the surname Perkins mean?

The surname Perkins is of Welsh origin and is derived from the name "Perkin", a popular medieval first name. Perkin is a diminutive form of the name 'Peter', which means 'rock' in Greek. The 'kin' suffix is of Dutch origin and implies 'little' or 'son', hence Perkins could be loosely interpreted as 'little Peter' or 'son of Peter'. This name was likely given historically to identify a person as the son of a man named Peter. Over time, it became a hereditary surname. The name Perkins has a long history with many variations appearing in Medieval Europe due to different languages and cultural influences. It is a common surname in English-speaking countries today.

Perkins: Where does the name Perkins come from?

The last name Perkins is most common throughout the United States and is also found in countries such as Canada, England, France, and Australia.

In the United States, the Perkins surname is most commonly found in the northern Midwest area. In particular, the states of Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin have the greatest concentration. It is also found in the southern United States in states such as Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

In Canada, the Perkins surname is most common in Ontario.

In England, it’s most commonly found in the South West region and counties such as Devon, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. In France, the Perkins surname is most commonly found in towns and cities such as Avignon, Montpellier, and Vichy.

Finally, the Perkins surname is also present in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

Overall, the Perkins surname is widespread across the globe, though there is a greater concentration is some areas than in others.

Variations of the surname Perkins

The surname Perkins is an English patronymic name derived from the given name "Peter". Variants of the surname Perkins include Parkins, Parkyns, Parkinson, Perkin, Perkyns, and Pirkins.

The earliest known ancestor of the Perkins family was Walter Parca, living in 1086 in Cambridgeshire. Other versions of the Perkins name started to appear in the 13th century, including Walter Perkin in 1273. The Perkins surname was later found derived from various local sources including Piers (Payres) in Berkshire, Pirkins in Lincolnshire, Parkyns in Shropshire, and Parkins in Oxfordshire.

The name Perkins is also found in various spellings such as Parkyn, Parkynes, Perkyns, Pirkin, Parkins, Parkyns, Parkens, Parkin, Pargins, Perkin, Pirken, Pirkins and Parkinson.

The variations in these names can be attributed to a number of factors. One of the reasons for the variations is the difference in spoken dialects in different regions. In addition, due to the lack of formalized spelling conventions during the Middle Ages, the same name could be spelt differently depending on who was recording it.

Through migration and intermarriage, various branches of the same family have adopted different versions of the name, leading to variations in spelling. Thus, the Perkins family has branched out with more surnames and spellings that refer to the same root.

Famous people with the name Perkins

• Dennis Perkins: American actor, comedian, musician, writer and director
• Anthony Perkins: American actor, best known for his roles in Psycho, Days of Wine and Roses and Pretty Poison
• Carl Perkins: American singer-songwriter, musician and rockabilly pioneer
• Anthony J. Perkins: Venture capitalist and co-founder of venture capital firm Perkins Coie LLP
• Osgood Perkins: American actor, director and screenwriter
• David Perkins: English actor, best known for roles in The World Is Not Enough, V for Vendetta and Harry Potter
• Thomas William Perkins: American venture capitalist and author
• George Henry Perkins: British politician and Liberal Party Member of Parliament
• Tony Perkins: American politician and Christian activist
• Mariscal Perkins: Mexican professional baseball player
• Liam Perkins: British professional rugby player
• Anthony Renfro Perkins: American Olympic long-jumper
• Tonya Kay Perkins: American actress, best known for roles in All About the Money, Happy Birthday and The Rules of Engagement
• Matthew Perkins: British actor and reality TV star
• Henry Perkins: English actor, best known for roles in Coronation Street and Benidorm
• Loki Perkins: American singer-songwriter and musician
• Eilidh Perkins: British professional golfer
• Thelma Perkins: Australian jazz singer and actress
• Vanora Perkins: British actress and presenter
• Wesley Perkins: American sociologist and anti-rape activist

Other surnames

PerkinPerkinsonPerkipile