Pérez History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Spain

The notable surname Pérez 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 Pérez family

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

Early History of the Pérez family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pérez 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 Pérez History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pérez 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 Pérez 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
Alvar Pérez, who in 1227 was betrothed to a daughter of the King of Navarre
Rodrigo Pérez de Tapiola received a grant of land near Cordoba after participating in its reconquest in 1236
Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, "el Bueno", renowned knight of the Reconquest, who died in 1309 in an attack on Granada
Pedro Pérez, architect of the Cathedral of Toledo
15th century biographer Fernán Pérez de Guzmán
Juan Pérez, prior of the monastery of La Rábida, who assisted Columbus in the preparations for his voyages
Gómez Pérez das Mariñas, 16th century officer and nobleman posted to Manila as Governor of the Philippines
Bartolomé Pérez (1634-1693), a Spanish painter of the Baroque period
Juan Claros Pérez de Guzmán y Fernández de Córdoba, 11th Duke of Medina Sidonia (1642-1713)
17th century playwright Juan Pérez de Montalbán

Pérez World Ranking

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

Pérez migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pérez 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.)

Pérez 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.)

Pérez Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Charles E Perez, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1904 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Pérez (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 65 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Pérez family +

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

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"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
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"List of most common surnames in South America." Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_common_surnames_in_South_America
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html