Perez Surname

Meaning and origin of the surname Perez

Patronymic surname meaning 'son of Pero' (Peter), derived through Latin Petrus and Greek Petros from Aramaic Cephas ('stone' or 'rock'), or alternatively linked to Hebrew Peretz ('breach' or 'bursting forth').

Historically and linguistically, Perez belongs to the Spanish and Hebrew family of surnames. It is conventionally pronounced "PAIR-es".

United States Census frequency and ranking

In the official 2010 United States Census, Perez was recorded 681,645 times, ranking as the 22nd most common surname in the nation.

This represents an incidence rate of approximately 231.08 bearers per 100,000 Americans, or roughly 1 out of every 433 residents.

Race and ethnicity distribution

According to official decennial Census genealogy microdata, individuals bearing the surname Perezreported the following racial and ethnic affiliations in the 2010 US Census:

Source: US Census Bureau, 2010 Census Surnames Data. Percentages may not sum to exactly 100% due to independent rounding or suppression of small cell counts for privacy protection.

History of the surname Perez

Perez is a prominent Spanish patronymic surname signifying 'son of Pero' or 'son of Pedro'. Pero evolved as the archaic vernacular Spanish form of Peter, originating through Latin Petrus and Greek Petros ('rock' or 'stone'), translating the Aramaic byname Cephas given by Jesus to the Apostle Simon. The patronymic suffix -ez denotes filial descent.

During the Middle Ages, Pero was widely bestowed across the Christian kingdoms of Castile, Navarre, Aragon, and Portugal (as Peres/Pires). The surname appears in early Spanish cartularies from the eleventh century, such as Martin Perez recorded in Castile in 1092. In Sephardic Jewish history, Perez was also borne as a direct adaptation of the biblical Hebrew name Peretz (one of the twin sons of Judah and Tamar in Genesis, meaning 'bursting forth' or 'breach'), preserved through Sephardic family lineages across Spain, Portugal, and the Mediterranean diaspora.

In the 2010 United States Census, Perez ranked 22nd nationwide with 681,645 recorded bearers. Over 93 percent of American bearers identified as Hispanic or Latino, with substantial concentrations across California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois.