Perdue History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The origins of the Anglo-Saxon name Perdue come from its first bearer, who was a person who was known for their continued use of the oath pour Dieu, which is Old French meaning "for God." This is a subset of the nickname type of name known as oath names. 1
Early Origins of the Perdue family
The surname Perdue was first found in Bedfordshire where Gilbert Purdeu was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1227. Later, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279 included an entry for John Purde in Cheshire and the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex had two entries for the family: John Purdew in 1296; and John Purde in 1332. These entries may be the same person, or father and son. In Norfolk, John Purdy was listed there in 1436 as was Robert Purdu in 1479. 1
The same source found Richard Parde in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1228; Robert Pardey in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296; and Henry Pardeu in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332. 1
Further to the north in Scotland, "John Purdie was one of an inquest in 1296 which found that Robert de Pinkeny held the tenement of Balincref, and David Perdy was a tenant of the earl of Douglas in Linton, 1376. A later David Purde, succentor of Glasgow, 1476-1477, appears again in 1491 as Prade, and in the title of his obituary in 1497 his name is given as Prowde." 2
Early History of the Perdue family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Perdue research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1525, 1569, 1585, 1743, 1754, 1764, 1770, 1776, 1779, 1783, 1814, 1820, 1823, 1858, 1880 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Perdue History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Perdue Spelling Variations
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Perdue has been spelled many different ways, including Pardy, Pardie, Pardee, Purdie, Purdew, Purdy, Purdoe, Pardoe and many more.
Early Notables of the Perdue family
Notables of the family at this time include Thomas Pardoe (1770-1823), English enameler who was noted for flower painting from Derby. Alexander Purdie (c. 1743- 1779), born in Scotland, emigrated to America by 1764. He became a prominent colonial American printer, publisher, and merchant in Williamsburg, Virginia where he...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Perdue Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Perdue Ranking
In the United States, the name Perdue is the 1,758th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 3
Migration of the Perdue family to Ireland
Some of the Perdue family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Perdue migration to the United States +
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Perdues to arrive in North America:
Perdue Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Stephen Perdue, who landed in Maryland in 1658 4
Perdue Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- F A Perdue, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
- William Perdue, aged 30, who landed in America, in 1894
- John Perdue, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States, in 1896
Perdue Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Wm. Perdue, aged 28, who settled in America, in 1919
- Grace E. I. Perdue, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States, in 1920
- James Perdue, aged 23, who settled in America, in 1922
- Richard Perdue, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States, in 1922
- Reg. Perdue, aged 25, who immigrated to America, in 1923
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Perdue migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Perdue Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
- Margaret Perdue, aged 29, who immigrated to Lethbridge, Canada, in 1913
Perdue 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:
Perdue Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Mr. William Perdue, (b. 1839), aged 21, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Gananoque" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 9th May 1860 5
- Mr. William Perdue, (b. 1839), aged 21, British farm labourer travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1860 5
Contemporary Notables of the name Perdue (post 1700) +
- George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue III (b. 1946), American politician, 81st Governor of Georgia (2003-2011), 31st United States Secretary of Agriculture (2017-)
- John Perdue (b. 1950), American politician, the 24th State Treasurer of West Virginia
- Charles Willard "Bolo" Perdue (1916-1988), American football end in the National Football League
- Peter C. Perdue (b. 1949), American author, professor, and historian
- Derelys Perdue (1902-1989), American silent-film actress and popular dancer
- Herbert Rodney Perdue (1882-1968), American professional baseball player
- Arthur W. Perdue, American founder of Perdue Farms along with his wife Pearl in 1920
- Franklin Parsons "Frank" Perdue (1920-2005), American businessman, for many years the president and CEO of Perdue Farms
- William Edward Perdue (b. 1965), retired American NBA basketball player
- Beverly Eaves "Bev" Perdue (b. 1947), American politician
- ... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Suggested Readings for the name Perdue +
- James A. Perdue and Descendants, 1822-1984 by Gervaise Wynn-Perdue.
- Our Family Heritage: the Perdues of the Easterns Shore of Maryland, 1563 to Present by Edward M. Perdue.
Citations +
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html