Contents [hide]

Perrett History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Sources

Perrett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Perrett

What does the name Perrett mean?

Perrett is one of the many new names that came to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Perrett comes from the name Peter. This name was a baptismal name that was originally derived from the French name Pierre and was a diminutive of the name Parrot, which means little Peter.

Interestingly, the English word "parrot," for the talking bird, was not in use until the 16th century, much later than this word's use as a surname.

Another source claims the name was originally "De Perrott from Castel Perrott, which he built in Armorica (Brittany), and the town of Perrott, one league from it. He came over to England in 957, and obtained some lands in Wessex, on a river which changed its name to the Perrot (now corrupted to the Parret), in Somersetshire." 1

Early Origins of the Perrett family

The surname Perrett was first found in Pembrokeshire where they were granted the lands of Ystington, Haroldston, and Carew Castle in that shire by King William for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. 2 Sir Stephen Perrott married Helen, the daughter of Marchion Ap Rice, Prince of South Wales at the beginning of the 12th century. "The valour and magnanimity of Sir Stephen gained him the respect and love of the Princess Ellyn's people. Their son, Sir Andrew, claimed the kingdom of Wales, in right of his mother, and collected a body of forces in assertion of his right, but the King of England marched a numerous army into the country to take advantage of the disorders; the knowledge of which and a sum of money offered by the English king, through the Bishop of St. David's, brought him to declare for that prince, who knighted him, on his doing homage for the land for twenty miles round Sir William's camp, whereon he built the Castle of Narbeth, whose ruins are extant in Pembroke." 1

Thorp Perrot Hall is a large 18th-century country house standing in an estate on the northern edge of Snape village. North Perrot(t) is a parish, in the union of Yeovil, hundred of Houndsborough, Berwick, and Coker, W. division of Somerset and South Perrot(t) is a parish, in the union of Beaminster, hundred of Beaminster-Forum, and Redhone, Bridport division of Dorset. 3

"The name of Parrott, probably a form of Perrett or Perrott, a common Somersetshire name, is better represented in Buckinghamshire, and is referred to also under that county. There was a gentle family of Parratt in the parish of Enstone [Oxfordshire] during the reign of Elizabeth." 4

Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide surname spellings in use at that time. Ralph Perot was listed in Essex in 1235 and later in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Bedfordshire. William Poret was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1301; and John Parrat was in early London records in 1344. 5

Early History of the Perrett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Perrett research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1528, 1550, 1571, 1579, 1583, 1588, 1592, 1597, 1601, 1604, 1608, 1611, 1617, 1622, 1626, 1629, 1636, 1659, 1671, 1677, 1679 and 1683 are included under the topic Early Perrett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Perrett Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Perrett are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Perrett include Perrot, Parrott, Parrot, Perrott, Perot, Perott, Perrett and many more.

Early Notables of the Perrett family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Rober Perrot (died 1550), English organist of Magdalen College, Oxford, second son of George Perrot of Harroldston, Pembrokeshire; Sir James Perrot (1571-1636), a Welsh writer and politician, Member of Parliament for Haverfordwest in 1597, (1604-1622) and (1626-1629), Custos Rotulorum of Pembrokeshire...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Perrett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Perrett family to Ireland

Some of the Perrett family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 104 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Perrett migration to the United States +

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Perrett, or a variant listed above:

Perrett Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Henry Perrett, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1777 6

Perrett migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Perrett Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Abram Perrett, who landed in Red River, Canada in 1821
John Perrett, who settled in Bay of Islands, Newfoundland in 1875 7

Perrett migration to Australia +

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

Perrett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Charles Perrett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1848 8
John Perrett, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Sea Park" 9
Charles Perrett, aged 35, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Magdelana" 10
Harriet Perrett, aged 28, a housemaid, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Norman"
Mr. Frederick Perrett, (b. 1866), aged 20, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Duke of Buckingham" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 4th January 1886 11

Perrett 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:

Perrett Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Henry Perrett, (b. 1843), aged 20, English farm labourer from Somerset travelling from London aboard the ship "Tiptree" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 20th January 1864 12
Miss Emily J. Perrett, (b. 1848), aged 15, English shoebinder from Somerset travelling from London aboard the ship "Tiptree" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 20th January 1864 12
James Perrett, aged 33, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ballochmyle" in 1874
John Perrett, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wairoa" in 1880
Robert Perrett, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wairoa" in 1880
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Perrett (post 1700) +

George Richard Perrett (1915-1952), English professional footballer who played for Fulham (1935-1936) and Ipswich Town (1936-1950)
Russell Perrett (b. 1973), English former footballer who played from 1994 to 2008
Robert Perrett (1919-1994), English footballer who played from 1937 to 1942
Peter Perrett (b. 1952), English singer-songwriter, rhythm guitarist and principal songwriter for the rock band the Only Ones
Amanda Perrett, English race horse trainer who runs the Coombelands Racing Stables in Pulborough, West Sussex, daughter of Guy Harwood; their stable has won over three hundred races
Ross Perrett, Architect of golf Courses around the world
Mark Perrett (b. 1973), former Welsh international rugby league player
Lucy Perrett (b. 1960), British sprint canoer who competed in 1984 Summer Olympics
Lloyd Perrett (b. 1994), New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Jeff Perrett (b. 1984), retired Canadian football offensive tackle from Lethbridge, Alberta, awarded the Leo Dandurand Trophy (2014)
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Perrett 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: Amo ut invenio
Motto Translation: I love as I find

Sources +

Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BABOO 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Baboo.htm
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SEA PARK 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/seapark1852.shtml
South Australian Register Wednesday 17th January 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Magdelana 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/magdalena1855.shtml
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_queensland.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html