Meaning & History
Perry is an English surname with both locational and occupational origins. It is derived from the Old English pirige, meaning "pear tree", which itself comes from peru ("pear"), ultimately from Latin pirum. As a locational name, Perry denoted someone who lived by a pear tree or an orchard. Occupationally, it may have been used for a fruit seller or someone who tended pear trees.
The surname is widespread across the English-speaking world, with notable early records in the 13th century. One of the most famous bearers was Matthew Perry (1794–1858), the American naval officer who played a key role in opening Japan to the West with his expedition in 1853–1854. His mission helped end Japan's isolationist Sakoku policy.
Related surnames with the same "pear tree" origin exist in other languages: French Poirier and Poirot (the latter famously used as the detective Hercule Poirot in literature), Portuguese Pereira and Pereyra, and Galician Pereiro. The surname Perry also gave rise to an English given name of the same spelling.
Related Names
Sources: Forebears — perry-1