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Perks History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Perks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Perks is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a name for a messenger or herald. Perks is a classic example of an English polygenetic surname, which is a surname that was developed in a number of different locations and adopted by various families independently.

Early Origins of the Perks family

The surname Perks was first found in Kent where they held a family seat from very early times, descended from a Norman noble "Perahgoz" meaning "bear-Goth"and were granted lands in Kent by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Perks family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Perks research. Another 233 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1190, 1497, 1498, 1575, 1626 and 1658 are included under the topic Early Perks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Perks Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Purchase, Purchas, Purchass, Purches, Purchis, Purkiss, Purkess, Purkis, Purkeys, Purkys, Purkes and many more.

Early Notables of the Perks family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir William Purchas, Lord Mayor of London (1497 to 1498); and Samuel Purchas (1575?-1626), was an English cleric and travel writer. His "Purchas his Pilgrimage" was...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Perks Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Perks migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Perks or a variant listed above:

Perks Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Ann Perks, aged 27, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Plain Joan" 1

Perks Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Perks, who landed in New England in 1715 1

Perks Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Perks, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1864 1

Perks migration to Australia +

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

Perks Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Perks, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 2
Mr. Thomas Perks, English convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worchestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 10th August 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
Mr. Frederick Perks, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Blundell" on 13th March 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
Charles Perks, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Condor" in 1851 5
Emma Perks, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Condor" in 1851 5

Perks 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:

Perks Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Perks, (b. 1821), aged 57, English mechanic from Worcestershire departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878
Mrs. Isabella Perks, (b. 1828), aged 50, English settler from Worcestershire departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878
Miss Amelia Perks, (b. 1854), aged 24, English dressmaker from Worcestershire departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878
Miss Agnes Perks, (b. 1861), aged 17, English General Servant from Worcestershire departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878
Mr. John D. Perks, (b. 1862), aged 16, English labourer from Worcestershire departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Perks (post 1700) +

Micah Perks (b. 1963), American author
Stephen John Perks (1963-2021), English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper (1982-1992)
Reginald Thomas David "Reg" Perks (1911-1977), English cricketer who played in 2 Tests in 1939
Sir Robert Malcolm Mewburn Perks (1892-1979), 2nd Baronet
Sir Robert William Perks (1849-1934), 1st Baronet, British Liberal politician
Craig William Perks (b. 1967), New Zealand PGA professional golfer
Gordon "Gord" Perks (b. 1963), Canadian environmentalist, political activist, writer

The Perks 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: Semper paratus
Motto Translation: Always prepared.

Citations +

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)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 23rd August 2020 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blundell
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CONDOR 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Condor.htm