Explore the Family Name Perec

The meaning of Perec

1. Jewish: Polish-influenced variant of Peretz. 2. Polish: probably a nickname from Polish dialect (originally Ukrainian) perec ‘pepper’. This surname is found mainly in the southeastern part of Poland (Lublin and Podkarpackie voivodeships, near to the Polish-Ukrainian border), and in so called Western Territories (especially Brzeg County in Opole Voivodeship), where Poles and Ukrainians were resettled after WWII. 3. Croatian: nickname or metonymic occupational name from perec ‘pretzel’, a word of Hungarian origin.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Perec in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Perec has seen a rise in popularity over a decade. In 2000, Perec ranked 80,502 in terms of commonality but jumped to 65,964 by 2010, marking an increase of 18.06%. Additionally, the count of individuals with this surname increased from 219 to 300 between 2000 and 2010, reflecting a significant 36.99% growth. The proportion of people named Perec per 100,000 also climbed from 0.08 to 0.1, showing a 25% rise.

20002010Change
Rank#80,502#65,96418.06%
Count21930036.99%
Proportion per 100k0.080.125%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Perec

In terms of ethnic identity, there were some considerable shifts among those bearing the surname Perec between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. While the percentage of White individuals with this surname fell from 19.18% to 14.67%, indicating a decline of 23.51%, the Hispanic population saw an increase from 77.63% to 83.33%, a 7.34% growth. Interestingly, the Asian/Pacific Islander category also emerged in 2010, accounting for 1.67% of the Perec population. The proportions of Black, American Indian and Alaskan Native, as well as those of two or more races, remained unchanged.

20002010Change
Hispanic77.63%83.33%7.34%
White19.18%14.67%-23.51%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%1.67%0%
Two or More Races0%0%0%
Black0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%