This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Perkins family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Perkins Family History

Perkins Surname Meaning

English: patronymic from Perkin also found throughout mid and south Wales.

Americanized form of French Paquin and Paquet 2 or

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Perkins family from?

You can see how Perkins families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Perkins family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Perkins families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2,073 Perkins families living in London. This was about 15% of all the recorded Perkins's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Perkins families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Perkins surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Perkins ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Perkins. 7% of Perkins men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Perkins women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Perkins were Bricklayer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Perkins | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    7%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Bricklayer
    2%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Perkins family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 804,000 census records available for the last name Perkins. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Perkins census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Perkins

Passenger Lists

There are 57,000 immigration records available for the last name Perkins. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Perkins immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 136,000 military records available for the last name Perkins. For the veterans among your Perkins ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Perkins military records

You've only scratched the surface of Perkins family history

Discover More

What is the average Perkins lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Perkins life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1941, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Perkins in 1940 was 45, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Perkins

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Perkins ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Perkins family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial