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Meaning & History
Etymology and Origin
Perrault is a French surname derived from a diminutive of the given name Pierre, the French form of Peter. The name Pierre, meaning "rock" or "stone" (from Greek "petros"), has been a staple in France since the 13th century and was borne by numerous influential figures, including the philosopher Pierre Abélard (1079–1142) and the scientist Pierre Curie (1859–1906). Perrault itself, pronounced /pɛ.ʁo/ in French, belongs to a family of diminutive-based surnames such as Perrin, Perrot, and Perreault.Historical Significance
Among the most famous bearers of the name is Charles Perrault (1628–1703), a French author credited with laying the foundations of the fairy tale genre. A member of the Académie Française, he published seminal works such as Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, and Cinderella, adapting oral folk tales into literary form with moral lessons. His collection Histoires ou contes du temps passé (1697) became a cornerstone of European folklore and influenced countless adapters. The Perrault name, particularly Charles’ legacy, remains synonymous with classic fairy storytelling and endures in global children's literature.Distribution and Related Names
Perrault is predominantly a French surname but also appears in communities influenced by French migration, notably in Canada (especially Quebec) and parts of the United States, where the variant Perreault is common. In other languages, equivalents trace back to Peter: Armenian Bedrosian (or Petrosyan), Russian Petrov (with feminine form Petrova), Croatian Petrić, and Serbian Petrović. These variations reflect the spread of Christian names across Europe, often adapted to local languages and naming conventions.
- Meaning: Diminutive of Pierre (rock/stone)
- Origin: French
- Type: Surname
- Common Regions: France, Quebec, Canada
Related Names
Other Languages & Cultures
(Armenian)
Bedrosian, Petrosyan (Russian)
Petrov, Petrova (Croatian)
Petrić (Serbian)
Petrović (Croatian)
Perić (Slovene)
Perko (Croatian)
Perković, Petković (Czech)
Pecháček, Pecháčková, Pešek, Pešková (Norwegian)
Pedersen, Petersen (Flemish)
Peeters (German)
Peter, Peters (Dutch)
Pieters (English)
Pearce, Pearse, Pearson, Peterson, Pierce, Pierson, Park 3, Parkins, Parkinson, Parks, Perkins (Finnish)
Pekkanen (Hungarian)
Péter, Pethes, Pető, Petőcs, Petőfi (Italian)
Di Pietro, Petri, Pietri, Pedrotti (Lithuanian)
Petraitienė, Petraitis, Petraitytė, Petrauskaitė, Petrauskas, Petrauskienė (Macedonian)
Petrovska, Petrovski (Norwegian)
Pettersen (Polish)
Pietrzak (Portuguese)
Pires (Romanian)
Petran, Petre, Petrescu (Spanish)
Pérez, Perez (Swedish)
Petersson, Pettersson, Persson (Ukrainian)
Petrenko
Sources: Wiktionary — Perrault