★ Be on time for a wonderful present this year · Order by Dec 8 (US) · Dec 9 (UK & AU) · All dates ›

Perl Surname Meaning & Origin

What the Perl last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.

Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Perl coat of arms for you.

Meaning and origin of the Perl last name

Meaning of the Perl last name: a descendant of Perle (pearl). Perl is a spelling variant of the German and English surname Pearl, and Elsdon Smith lists both forms in one entry. Smith gives the meaning as a descendant of Perle (pearl). Modern surname data shows Perl bearers in the United States, Germany and Canada.

Arms associated with the Perl name

Sharing a surname establishes no coat of arms entitlement; heraldry follows documented individual lineages.

Smith lists Perl as a variant of Pearl.

Get your full Perl family history

This is only a glimpse of the Perl story. The full Perl history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Perl coat of arms. Get the full Perl report.

Perl name FAQ

What does the Perl name mean?

A descendant of Perle (pearl). Common variants include Pearl.

Where does the Perl surname come from?

It originates in Germany, and is also found in the United States and Canada.

Is there a Perl coat of arms?

Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Perl coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.

Sources: Elsdon C. Smith, Dictionary of American Family Names (1956), individual surname entries; modern indexed dictionary entries supersede conflicting interpretations.; Forebears, Surnam.es and individual surname distribution references.