Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Perry” come from?

Perry (English) comes from Middle English perre, from Old French peré, from Latin pater, from Proto-Italic patēr, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- — to protect; to shepherd.

Ancestry of “Perry”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishperreperry; Valuable jewels or gemstones; A valuable...
2Old Frenchperé—
3Latinpaterfather; head of household; parent
4Proto-Italicpatērfather
5Proto-Indo-Europeanph₂tḗrfather
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂-to protect; to shepherd

Words derived from “Perry”

  • Perryville
  • perryite
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- →