Pérez is a common Castilian Spanish patronymic surname meaning "son of Pedro." Pedro itself is the Spanish form of Peter, which derives from the Greek word petros (stone). The name Peter was given by Jesus to the apostle Simon, as recorded in Matthew 16:18 and John 1:42.
Historical and Geographic Distribution
The surname Pérez originated in medieval Spain and spread throughout the Spanish-speaking world. It is particularly common in Spain, Mexico, and other Latin American countries. Due to the patronymic tradition, it emerged in the early Middle Ages when Spanish surnames began to stabilize.
Related Surnames
Equivalent surnames in other languages include Peres and Pires in Portuguese, Peris in Catalan, Peters in German, Petrov in Russian, Petrović in Serbian and Croatian, Petrescu in Romanian, and Peterson in English and Scandinavian languages. Also, the variant Perez (without the accent) is common in English-speaking countries.
Pronunciation
In Castilian Spanish, Pérez is pronounced [ˈpeɾeθ], with a soft 'th' sound for the 'z', while in Latin American Spanish it becomes [ˈpeɾes]. The English pronunciation is anglicized, usually stressed on the last syllable: /pəˈrɛz/.
Notable Bearers
Notable people with the surname include Spanish politicians, athletes, and artists. Among many others, it is also a common surname in Puerto Rico and the Philippines.
- Meaning: Son of Pedro
- Origin: Castilian Spanish, patronymic
- Type: Surname
- Regions: Spain, Latin America, Philippines
Roots
Variants
Other Languages & Cultures
Same Spelling
Sources: Wikipedia — Pérez