Show ContentsPerez History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The notable surname Perez is a proud sign of a rich and ancient Spanish ancestry. The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Spain were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. Spanish patronymic names emerged as early as the mid-9th century and the most common patronymic suffix is "ez." The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. In Europe, the Christian Church was one of the most powerful influences on the formation of given names. Personal names derived from the names of saints, apostles, biblical figures, and missionaries are widespread in most European countries. In the Middle Ages, they became increasingly popular because people believed that the souls of the deceased continued to be involved in this world. They named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint.

Early Origins of the Perez family

The surname Perez was first found in Castile, where the name originated in Visigothic times.

Early History of the Perez family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Perez research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1155, 1168, 1227, 1236, 1309, 1570, 1606, 1628, 1634, 1642, 1670, 1693 and 1713 are included under the topic Early Perez History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Perez Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Pérez, Perez, Pédriz, Pedriz, Périz, Periz, Pétrez, Petrez, Pétriz, Petriz, Pédrez, Pedrez and many more.

Early Notables of the Perez family

Prominent among members of the family was the legendary Castilian heroine María Pérez who, disguised as a man, fought against and defeated the Aragonese King Alfonso I and later married a Castilian prince; Pelayo Pérez de Fromesta, a knight of Castile in 1155; Count Alvar Pérez de Lara, tutor to the young King Alfonso VIII in 1168; Gutierre Pérez de Reynoso, ambassador of Alfonso VIII to the King of England; Ferran Peres Pardo, a knight of the order of Santiago; Alvar Pérez, who in 1227 was betrothed to a daughter of the King of Navarre; Rodrigo Pérez de Tapiola received a...
Another 145 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Perez Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Perez World Ranking

In the United States, the name Perez is the 42nd most popular surname with an estimated 385,485 people with that name. [1] However, in Quebec, Canada, the name Perez is ranked the 840th most popular surname. [2] And in France, the name Perez is the 69th popular surname with an estimated 35,270 people with that name. [3] South America ranks Perez as 7th with 336 people. [4]


United States Perez migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Perez Settlers in United States in the 16th Century
  • Juan Pérez de Sorita of Cordoba, who voyaged to Peru in 1550 and to Argentina in 1557
  • Inés Pérez, who immigrated to Honduras in 1560
  • Andrés Pérez, settled in Peru in 1560 with his wife Isabel and daughter Magdalena
  • Diego Pérez, went to Colombia in 1561
  • Blas Pérez, who landed in Hispaniola in 1562
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Perez Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Francisco Perez, who landed in America in 1810 [5]
  • Alonso Perez, who arrived in America in 1812 [5]
  • Andres Perez, who arrived in America in 1812 [5]
  • Bartolome Perez, who arrived in America in 1813 [5]
  • Ferran Perez, who arrived in America in 1814 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Perez Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Charles E Perez, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1904 [5]

Contemporary Notables of the name Perez (post 1700) +

  • Demetrio Alberto Pérez Jr. (1945-2023), Cuban-American educator, politician, radio commentator, entrepreneur and publisher of LIBRE, a bilingual weekly newspaper
  • George Pérez (1954-2022), American comic book artist and writer, who worked primarily as a penciller for The Avengers for Marvel Comics, The New Teen Titans and Wonder Woman
  • Nilsa Cruz Perez, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 2000, 2004 [6]
  • Raúl Papaleo Pérez (b. 1971), considered by many islanders to be the greatest Beach Volleyball player in Puerto Rico
  • Rosa María "Rosie" Perez (b. 1964), American actress, dancer, choreographer and director
  • Tony Pérez (b. 1942), American film and television actor
  • Private First Class Manuel Perez Jr. (1923-1945), American soldier awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1945
  • Richard Ray Perez, American film producer and director
  • Carmen Perez, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1972 [7]
  • Anthony Perez, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2004 [7]
  • ... (Another 64 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

St. Francis Dam
  • Mrs. Maria Bravo Perez, Mexican born American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
  • Mr. Jesus Perez, Mexican born American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928


Suggested Readings for the name Perez +

  • Children of the Hummingbird: Perez and Najera of Mexico and Texas by Robert McAlear.
  • Tales of an Italian-American Family by Joseph F. Perez.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  3. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  4. "List of most common surnames in South America." Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_common_surnames_in_South_America
  5. 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)
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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