Explore the Family Name Percival
The meaning of Percival
English: 1. from the Middle English and Old French personal name Perceval, first found as the name of the hero of an epic poem by the 12th-century French poet Crestien de Troyes, describing the quest for the holy grail. The origin of the name is uncertain; it may be associated with the Gaulish personal name Pritorīx or it may be an altered form of the Celtic name Peredur (see Priddy). It seems to have been altered as the result of folk etymological association with Old French perce(r) ‘to pierce or breach’ + val ‘valley’. 2. (of Norman origin): habitational name from either of two places called Perceval in Calvados, Normandy (France).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Percival in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Percival saw a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. The rank of this surname dropped from 9,475 in 2000 to 9,767 in 2010, marking a change of -3.08%. However, the overall count of individuals with the Percival surname increased by 5.4%, from 3,147 in 2000 to 3,317 in 2010. Despite the increase in count, the proportion per 100,000 people saw a slight dip, decreasing from 1.17 to 1.12, a change of -4.27%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #9,475 | #9,767 | -3.08% |
| Count | 3,147 | 3,317 | 5.4% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.17 | 1.12 | -4.27% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Percival
When examining the ethnic identity associated with the Percival surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some notable shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as White decreased from 87.64% to 85.14%, a change of -2.85%. The Hispanic and Black ethnicities both saw significant increases, with Hispanic going from 2.51% to 3.32% (a 32.27% increase) and Black from 6.26% to 8.29% (a 32.43% increase). Meanwhile, the Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicity saw a slight increase from 1.18% to 1.21%, while those identifying as two or more races decreased from 1.68% to 1.48%. Lastly, those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native saw a decrease from 0.73% to 0.57%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 87.64% | 85.14% | -2.85% |
| Black | 6.26% | 8.29% | 32.43% |
| Hispanic | 2.51% | 3.32% | 32.27% |
| Two or More Races | 1.68% | 1.48% | -11.9% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.18% | 1.21% | 2.54% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.73% | 0.57% | -21.92% |
Percival ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Percival is British & Irish, which comprises 61.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (22.8%) and Italian (3.7%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Spanish & Portuguese, Eastern European, Nigerian, and Ashkenazi Jewish.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 61.1% |
| French & German | 22.8% |
| Italian | 3.7% |
| Other | 12.4% |
Possible origins of the surname Percival
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Percival have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 91.50% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 91.50% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 91.50% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 90.60% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 89.70% |
What Percival haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Percival is R-U152, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-U152 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS241 and I-M170, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Colby, Camp, Bonham, Sandlin, Pruett, Rager, Jester, Collard, Meacham, Lent.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Percival surname are: H1, H3, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Percival have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Percival" Surname 50.0%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Percival" Surname 38.2%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Percival" Surname 19.1%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Percival" Surname 16.2%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Percival?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Percival are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition