Show ContentsPerring History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Perring is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The name Perring came from the ancient given name Peter which anciently meant rock or stone. "The Counts du Perrin held large possessions in the district of Nosiere, in France, but being Huguenots, the family were compelled to quit their native land, in the earlier part of the XVIII. century, and they settled in Lisburn, in Ireland. Several members of the family have distinguished themselves at the Irish bar, and one is well known as the author of an excellent grammar of his ancestral language. " 1

Early Origins of the Perring family

The surname Perring was first found in Northumberland where Perrinus uadletus (Latin form) was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1207. John Pirun was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1166 and Geoffrey Perrun was listed as a Knights Templar in Lincolnshire in 1185. A few years later, Henry Piron was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1194 in Oxfordshire. 2

Further to the south in Cornwall, the parish of Perran-Zabuloe is of interest to us. "St. Piran, the supposed patron of the tinners, the performer of miracles, the solitary hermit, and the Bishop of Cornwall took up his abode. 'Piran,' according to Leland, 'was born in Ireland within the province of Ostrige. Domuel was his father, and Wingela his mother. Piran was the disciple of St. Patrick. Piran came into Britain, died and was buried in Britain; and Wingela the mother of Piran inhabited in a place near her son with holy virgins.' At a period subsequent to the Norman Conquest, this manor is said to have belonged to a family called St. Piran, but whether related to the ancient saint is very uncertain." 3

Early History of the Perring family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Perring research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1553, 1558, 1642, 1665 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Perring History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Perring Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Perring has been recorded under many different variations, including Perrin, Perren, Perrine, Peren, Perring, Perrins and others.

Early Notables of the Perring family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was William Peryn (died 1558), Dominican, who was probably connected with the Perins of Shropshire, prior of the Dominican house of St. Bartholomew in Smithfield...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Perring Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Perring migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Perrings were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Perring Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Charles Perring, who settled in Boston in 1768
Perring Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Peter Perring, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 4

Australia Perring migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Perring Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Perring, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 5
  • Benjamin Perring, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on April 1st, 1822, settling in New South Wales, Australia 6
  • Mr. George Perring, British Convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for life , transported aboard the "Commodore Hayes" in April 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
  • Mr. William Perring, British convict who was convicted in Jersey for 14 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 2nd November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
  • Peter Perring, aged 42, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Trafalgar" 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Perring migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Perring Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. H. Perring, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Palmyra" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 19th February 1858 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Perring (post 1700) +

  • George Wilson Perring (1884-1960), American Major League Baseball third baseman who played from 1908 to 1915
  • Sir Ralph Edgar Perring (1905-1998), 1st Baronet of Frensham Manor, Surrey, English politician, Lord Mayor of London from 1962 to 1963
  • Sir Philip Perring (1828-1920), 4th Baronet of Membland, Devon, English peer
  • Sir Philip Perring (1797-1866), 3rd Baronet of Membland, Devon, English peer
  • Sir William George Perring (1866-1937), British Conservative politician, Member of Parliament for Paddington North (1918-1929)
  • Sir John Raymond Perring (b. 1931), 2nd Baronet of Frensham Manor, Surrey, English peer
  • Sir John Perring FSA (1765-1831), 1st Baronet of Membland, Devon, British politician and peer, Lord Mayor of London in 1803
  • Sir John Perring (1794-1843), 2nd Baronet of Membland, Devon, English peer
  • James Ernest Perring (1822-1889), British opera singer, voice trainer, and composer
  • John Shae Perring (1813-1869), British engineer, anthropologist and Egyptologist, best known for his work at excavating and documenting Egyptian pyramids


The Perring Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Impavidun feriunt ruinae
Motto Translation: Danger shall strike me unappalled.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  5. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
  6. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 190 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1822
  7. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th March 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/commodore-hayes
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th March 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The TRAFALGAR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Trafalgar.htm
  10. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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