Show ContentsPearlman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Pearlman family

The surname Pearlman was first found in Oxfordshire at Oseney, where in year 1259 Henry and Reginald Perle were listed as holding lands at that time. The name is derived from the Middle English and Old French word "perle," meaning "pearl," one who sells pearls. [1]

Thomas Perle was found in the Close Rolls of 1343. [2] [3] The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included a listing for Egidias and Richard Perles, but no counties were listed.

And one source postulates that the name could be Norman French as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae records John and Tustin Peril or Perol in Normandy in 1198. [4]

Early History of the Pearlman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pearlman research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1316, 1388, 1394, 1402, 1406, 1422, 1423, 1428, 1455, 1487, 1808, 1842, 1845, 1856, 1858 and 1886 are included under the topic Early Pearlman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pearlman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Perle, Pearl, Pearle, Pear, Parl, Perl, Purl, Purle, Pearlman, Perlman and many more.

Early Notables of the Pearlman family

Distinguished members of the family include John Perle (died 1402), of Dorchester, Dorset, an English politician, Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Dorchester in February 1388 and for Dorset in 1394. Another John Perle (died 1428), of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, was an English politician. He was Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Shrewsbury in 1406, 1422 and 1423.Cora Pearl (1842-1886), the English courtesan assumed the name Pearl. She was born Emma Elizabeth Crouch at Caroline Place, East Stonehouse, Devonshire, on 23 Feb. 1842. "She was the daughter of Frederick William Nicholls Crouch, by his wife, Lydia Pearson, a...
Another 123 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pearlman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pearlman Ranking

In the United States, the name Pearlman is the 11,478th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [5]

Migration of the Pearlman family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..


Contemporary Notables of the name Pearlman (post 1700) +

  • Edith Ann Pearlman (1936-2023), née Grossman, an American short story writer, born in Providence, Rhode Island
  • Lindsey Erin Pearlman (1978-2022), American actress known for her roles on General Hospital and Chicago Justice, member of The Second City Conservatory
  • Alan R. Pearlman (1925-2019), American engineer and founder of ARP Instruments, Inc
  • Louis Jay "Lou" Pearlman (1954-2016), American record producer and fraudster, manager of the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC
  • Samuel Clarke "Sandy" Pearlman (1943-2016), American music producer, artist manager, professor, poet, songwriter
  • Jeff Pearlman, American sports writer
  • Richard Pearlman (1938-2006), American theatre and opera director
  • Michael Pearlman (b. 1972), American actor
  • William G. Pearlman, American politician, Member of Georgia State House of Representatives from Sumter County, 1947-49; Resigned 1949 [6]
  • Thomas W. Pearlman (b. 1928), American Republican politician, Member of Rhode Island State House of Representatives [6]
  • ... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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