Historical story

Where does the surname Perks come from?

The surname Perks has multiple possible origins. It is generally agreed to be an occupational name, derived from Middle English "perke", itself from a Dutch or North German original meaning "pork". The surname may have originated as a nickname for someone engaged in the swine trade, or more generally as a nickname descriptive of someone who was thought to resemble a pig in some way.

Alternatively, the surname may have originated from the German word "perch" meaning "stickleback" (a fish), and as such it was possibly a nickname for someone who dealt in fish. The earliest known reference to the surname is in the 13th century in the county of Sussex.