Surname Persey - Meaning and Origin

Persey: What does the surname Persey mean?

The last name Persey is an English surname derived from the pre-7th century name Persius, itself believed to have originated from the Latin 'persaeus', meaning ‘Macedonian’. It has been suggested that the name was first recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book under the variants Persi, Percy and Purcy.

The name is associated with a number of notable individuals in English history. In the 11th Century, Robert Percy (Robert Persius) was part of the household of William the Conqueror, along with his brother, Ivo de Percy, and his son, Osmond de Percy.

Persey has also been a popular surname among the British Royal Family. One of the most famous is King Henry VII of England who was a direct descendant of Ivo de Percy. Other royals bearing the name include Princess Eugenie, daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Admiral Sir Alexander Percy.

The meaning of the surname Persey has been believed to be derived from 'Macedonian' but the exact meaning is uncertain. It has been suggested that the name of Persey has been connected with a people from the region of Phrygia in central Anatolia (now part of Turkey), which was a kingdom in Macedonia from the third century BCE. It may even have been taken from the old Greek name Persaeus which means 'wandering'.

Overall, the true meaning and origin of the surname Persey may never be known. What is certain though is that the name has been held by many important figures in English history and continues to be carried forward to this day.

Persey: Where does the name Persey come from?

The last name Persey is most commonly found today in countries of the British Isles such as England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as Australia and New Zealand. According to Ancestry.com, the surname originated in England and can be traced back to the medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the Old French word ‘persée’, meaning ‘from the pear tree’, suggesting it was once a nickname for a person with a pear tree in their yard.

In England the name is most commonly found in Yorkshire and Lancashire, with the highest concentration of individuals bearing the Persey surname in South Yorkshire. In Scotland, the surname is most prevalent in the eastern county of Fife.

In Ireland, the Persey surname is concentrated in the Munster province in provinces such as Cork, Kerry and Limerick. In Wales, the name's presence is most concentrated in Mid-Wales and Glamorgan.

Outside of the British Isles, the Persey surname is most commonly found in Australia, particularly around the cities of Melbourne and Sydney, where a particularly large concentration of people with the name can be found in the Burwood suburb of Sydney. The same goes for New Zealand, where the surname can be found most often around Auckland and also in the country's capital, Wellington.

Variations of the surname Persey

The surname Persey is a wonderfully rich and unique name with many variant spellings and other surnames of the same origin.

Variant Spellings: Paircey, Parsay, Parsaye, Parsie, Parsy, Parsey, Pearcey, Pearcey, Pearcy, Pearsey, Pearsie,Pearsy, Pearsy, Pierce, Piercey, Piercy, Piersie, Piersey, Piersy, Pircey, Pirsey, Pursy.

Surnames of the same origin: Pirce, Percy, Pierce, Pearce, Parsae, Persae, Persay, Parsy.

The most common spellings are Percy and Pierce, with Pierce being thought to be the older version of the name. Early records of the name date back as far as the 12th century when Robert Perssi was recorded in the pipe rolls in Suffolk in 1148. The name is thought to have derived from the personal nickname of 'Pers' or 'Piers', often applied to people blessed with a strong or cheerful personality.

Over the centuries, other variant spellings have come about to reflect regional pronunciation and linguistic variations, as well as the ease of recording surnames. The surname is widely spread throughout Britain and many other parts of the world, with the highest concentration of the name found in the United States, Australia, France, Canada and England.

The Persey surname can be a proud reminder of your family history and the unique culture and history of the people that bore it.

Famous people with the name Persey

• John Persey: Former Lakers coach and a Basketball Hall of Famer.
• Dom Persey: British professional footballer currently playing for Brentford FC.
• Paul Persey: English footballer and football club manager.
• LeVar Persey: American television actor, best known for his role in the TV series The Next Generation.
• Jonathan Persey: A German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for FC Schalke 04.
• Ruben Persey: American politician from Montana.
• Chris Persey: British record producer and engineer.
• Charlotte Persey: Award-winning American journalist known for her investigative reporting.
• Steve Persey: Former American executive and CEO of Gatorade.
• Joe Persey: English actor most famous for his roles in the films The Olivers Twist and Grease 2.

Other surnames

Perser