Surname Perle - Meaning and Origin
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Perle: What does the surname Perle mean?
The last name Perle is of German-Jewish origin meaning “pearl” or “precious gem”. The name derives from Middle High German perle and Old High German pera, both meaning “pearl”. It may have originally been an ornamental or occupational name for someone who made jewelry or dealt in pearls. The name has likely spread to other countries and languages and appears in many symbolic contexts throughout history in Europe and beyond. In Germany, it is associated with a rococo-style painting of Mother Mary with a pearl necklace released by Johann Conrad Seekatz in 1760.
The surname is popular in many countries, primarily in the United States, Germany, Austria, and Israel where it is currently the 581st, 123th, 389th, and 2135th most popular surname, respectively. It is also common in Eastern Europe where the root word “perl” appears in many languages. Perle immigrants to the United States were typically either Jewish individuals fleeing religious persecution or those who left Germany in search of better economic opportunities.
Perle is often used allegorically or symbolically to represent beauty, purity, eternity, perfection, and other concepts that evoke a sense of reverence or respect. It is thus commonly used in literature, poetry, religious texts, and other works aiming to transpose an idea or emotion into tangible form. The name may also refer to things that appear precious or valuable, such as a rare item or gem, or a person of particular worth.
Order DNA origin analysisPerle: Where does the name Perle come from?
The Perle surname is most common in Germany and Polish-speaking countries of Europe. In Germany, Perle is the 72nd most common surname. In the United States, the Perle surname is much less common, ranking 2,738th nationally.
The surname has its roots in a Germanic word meaning “pearl.” It’s believed the surname was likely given to someone with a pearlescent complexion or perhaps to someone who sold pearlfish. Alternatively, it may have simply been a nickname for someone with a large number of possessions or wealth, since pearls were a symbol of wealth.
In 18th and 19th century Germany, the Perle surname was most primarily located in the former Prussian provinces of Brandenburg, Pomerania, and Saxony. It’s believed that many of the modern descendants of original Perle families were forced to migrate out of Germany due to religious and economic struggles in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today, the largest populations of people carrying the Perle surname are in Germany and Poland. Of course, many Perle families have since branched out and can be found in other parts of Europe, in North and South America, and all other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Perle
The surname Perle can be found in many different spelling variants, such as Perl, Pearle, Parle, Parel, Parrel, Parrill, and Perrill. It can also take on a variety of different surnames originating from the same root. These include Pell, Parl, Pearl, Pearall, Pearrell, Peart, and Peirce.
The name Perle is mainly a Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname. It likely began as a nickname for someone who was known for a particular habit or quality. The German word perle means pearl, which was likely used as a description of someone with qualities of a pearl, such as brightness, delicacy and beauty. This name was likely seen as a sign of admiration and often given to a beloved person.
It is possible that Perle is an Occupational surname, referring to someone who worked or lived near pearls (e.g. a jewelry maker, or pearl merchant), or it could have been a topographical surname for those living near a place associated with pearl, such as a river, lake, or pear orchard.
The root name for Perle and all of its spelling and surname variants is likely derived from German, Dutch, or minimally French origins. However, the surname has been adopted into other languages. For example, in Spanish it can be found as Perla and in Yiddish as Perl.
Famous people with the name Perle
- Marc Perle: an American chef, restaurateur and cookbook author.
- Rosanna Perle: an Italian actress.
- Richard Perle: Former US Assistant Secretary of Defense.
- Abraham Perle: American electrical engineer.
- Boris Perle: a French pop singer.
- Willy Perle: a Swiss theater and film actor.
- Jeffrey Perle: a three time Emmy nominated American fashion designer.
- Joseph Perle: German architect and photographer.
- Eric Perle: Danish film producer.
- Robert Perle: an American music producer and songwriter.
- David Perle: the lead singer for the punk rock band T.S.O.L.
- Juan Perle: an Argentinian musician and songwriter.
- Samantha Perle: an American film, television, and stage actress.
- Edward Perle: an American businessman and philanthropist.
- Sam Perle: a Canadian painter and ceramicist.
- Logan Perle: a Canadian film producer and director.
- Steven Perle: an American music producer and songwriter.
- Erica Perle: an American jazz singer and songwriter.
- Jack Perle: an American cartoonist.
- Mason Perle: an American children's book author and illustrator.