Surname Perls - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Perls: What does the surname Perls mean?
The last name Perls is of German origin, taken from the Middle High German word perle which means "pearl". It may have been originally used to refer to a person of great value or beauty, or someone who was particularly intelligent. Alternately, it could have been a reference to the local economy of the region in which the family lived, as pearls were an important item for trade during that time.
The coat of arms of the Perls family from Germany features a white shield with a black lion, representing strength and authority. This lion is often carrying what appears to be a pearl. This may be a confirmation of the likely origin of the family name.
The Perls surname appears to be associated with Jewish families in Germany, although it is likely that other groups also adopted it following emigration to other parts of Europe, such as Poland, Russia, and Romania.
Today, the surname Perls is common in Germany and throughout the world, and can be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is possible that some individuals bearing the Perls surname are not related, but have adopted it for its sound or due to shared values.
Order DNA origin analysisPerls: Where does the name Perls come from?
The last name Perls is most common in Germany and other German-speaking areas, such as Austria, Switzerland, and parts of eastern Europe. It is also a popular surname in Scandinavia, particularly in Sweden and Finland. It is derived from the Middle High German word 'perle', which translates to 'pearl'. In the United States, the surname is most concentrated in New York and Pennsylvania, likely due to German immigrants settling there in the 1700s and 1800s. The same is true for other areas of the world, such as Canada and Brazil, where German immigrants would have brought the surname with them.
In terms of the 21st century, the last name of Perls is still fairly common throughout Germany, Austria, and some other parts of Europe. It is also quite popular in the United States, particularly in New York and Pennsylvania, where German-American communities are prevalent. You can also find the surname in countries with large German-speaking populations, such as Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.
Variations of the surname Perls
The surname Perls is a Germanic origin name, derived from the word "Pearl," which refers to a gemstone that is highly prized for its beauty and value. Variants of this surname include Perles, Perlesz, Perlz, Perales, and Peralta. All of these variations are derived from the root name, Perls.
The Jewish variant of the surname Perls, is Perlz, and is often spelled with the last letter, 'z'. Furthermore, this variation can also be seen as Perlesz, Perlstein, and Perlsteiner. An Italian variant is seen as Perales, and a Spanish variant as Peralta.
The Perls surname is also seen in a Swedish spelling as Perlsson, and in the Dutch spelling as Pursel and Pursell. In Polish, the surname may be spelled as Perlowski, Parlinski, and Parlinska.
In addition, the Dutch variant of the name is often described as 'van Pursel' meaning 'from Pursel.' There are also variants of this surname seen in the Ukranian, Russian and Slavic languages.
Whether the name is spelled with one "l" or two, an "s" or "z," the surname Perls has many different spellings and variations. It is a timeless surname, passed down through the generations, that has withstood the test of time.
Famous people with the name Perls
- Theodor Reik: a psychoanalyst who was a contemporary of Sigmund Freud; published several major books on psychotherapy and psychoanalytical theory
- Hermann Rorschach: the creator of the eponymous Rorschach test, a psychological test frequently used for assessment and diagnosis in clinical psychology
- Fritz Perls: a psychotherapist who is co-founder of Gestalt therapy; author of ‘Gestalt Therapy Verbatim’ and many other works
- Laura Perls: co-founder of Gestalt therapy with husband Fritz; wrote several influential texts on the theory and practice of Gestalt
- Richard Perls: the inventor of the ‘hot seat’, an improvisational technique used in Gestalt therapy
- Charlotte Perls: a Gestalt therapist and wife of Fritz; worked in collaboration with her husband on many projects and wrote several books
- Thomas Perls: a professor of medicine and geriatrics at Boston University; best known for his work on aging and longevity
- George Perls: a published poet and psychotherapist who played an important role in the development of existential fact-finding in Gestalt therapy