Pérez (
Spanish ), Peretz (
Hebrew ) Pronunciation Spanish:
[ˈpeɾeθ] Latin American Spanish:
[ˈpeɾes] Hebrew:
[ˈpeʁets] Language(s)
Spanish ,
Hebrew Meaning
Spanish : "Son of Pero or Pedro (Peter)"
Hebrew : "a burst / a rush" Region of origin
Spain (former for
Sephardi Jews )
Portugal (former for Sephardi Jews)
Israel (current for Sephardi Jews) Variant form(s)
Spanish surnames : Pérez, Perez,
Peres , Peris, Pesidas, Pharez, Pretz,
Pires , Pritz, Peters, Fares, Farez, Fretz;
Sephardi Jewish surnames: Peretz , Perets ; Usage mainly for surnames (family names)
Pérez or Perez , as most commonly written in English, is a
Castilian Spanish surname. Peretz or Perets (
Hebrew : פֶּרֶץ ; pronounced
[ˈpeʁets] ) is also common among people of
Sephardi Jewish descent, and is the 4th most common
surname in
Israel , most common surname not of
Hebrew language origin, and most common surname exclusive to a single
Jewish ethnoreligious subgroup .
[1]
Origins
The surname with Spanish origins, written in Spanish orthography as Pérez , is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Pero or Pedro (Peter)". The surname has a Portuguese counterpart with the same meaning and etymology,
Peres , written with a final "s" instead of "z" and without the accent.
The surname with a Hebrew origin is transliterated into English as either Perez or
Peretz , and is derived from the Hebrew given name פרץ (
Genesis 38:29 ), after the biblical character
Perez (son of Judah) , which in Hebrew means "to breach" or "to burst forth". That biblical character's Hebrew name, however, is transliterated as Farés in the Spanish Christian Bible.
Neither the Spanish nor the Hebrew surname corresponds to one single lineage. Instead, both correspond to many unrelated lineages.
Additionally, while the Spanish and Hebrew etymological origins are distinct, there are nevertheless those who carry the surname because, in their particular case, the origin of their surname is Spanish Jewish (i.e.
Sephardic ), and they, as Spanish Jews or their descendants, adopted the surname precisely because of its ambiguity.
Pérez as a surname among Spanish Jews or their descendants could be considered by their non-Jewish Spanish or Hispanic neighbors a typical Christian surname, yet still pay homage to their Jewish roots. This was helpful during the times of the
Spanish Inquisition and its persecution of the Jews (and their baptized
New Christian descendants) in Spain and its colonies in
Hispanic America .
Among Spaniards and Hispanics, the surname by itself does not necessarily indicate a Jewish heritage. Likewise, among Jews, the surname does not by itself necessarily indicate a Sephardic heritage.
Pronunciation
In
Castilian Spanish , the name is pronounced
[ˈpeɾeθ] and in Hispanic America,
[ˈpeɾes] . The accent or stress is placed on the second-to-last syllable. In British English, on the contrary, it is usually pronounced with stress on the last syllable.
In
Modern Hebrew the name is written פרץ and pronounced
[ˈpeʁets] .
List of persons with the surname
Adolfo Pérez Esquivel , Argentine activist
Agustin Pérez (died 1286), Roman Catholic bishop
Ailyn Pérez , American opera singer
AJ Perez (1993–2011), Filipino actor
AJ Perez (blogger) , Filipino blogger
Al Perez , American professional wrestler
Albino Pérez , Mexican soldier and politician
Álex Pérez (footballer, born 1991) , Spanish footballer
Alfonso Pérez , Colombian boxer
Alfredo Pérez , Venezuelan boxer
Alonso Pérez , Spanish painter
Amalia Pérez (born 1977), Mexican powerlifter
Amalia Pérez Díaz , Venezuelan actress
Amanda Perez , American R&B/Hip-Hop artist
Amy Perez , Filipino actress
Ángel Pérez (volleyball) , Puerto Rican volleyball player
Antonio Pérez , Spanish statesman, secretary to King Philip II
Antonio Pérez , Dominican baseball player
Antonio Pérez Delgadillo , Mexican football goalkeeper
Pitbull (born Armando Pérez), American rapper
Arnaldo Pérez , Puerto Rican swimmer
Arturo Pérez-Reverte , Spanish novelist and journalist
Ashley Grace Pérez , American Latin pop singer, member of pop group Ha*Ash
Ayoze Pérez (born 1993), Spanish footballer
Bartolomé Pérez (1634–1693), Spanish painter
Belle Perez , Belgian musician and songwriter
Benito Pérez Galdós , Spanish novelist
Bianca Jagger , born Bianca Pérez-Mora, Nicaraguan social and human rights advocate
Blanca Delia Pérez , Canary Islands politician
Calixto Pérez , Colombian boxer
Carla Pérez , Brazilian dancer
Carlos Pérez , Dominican baseball player
Carlos Pérez (catcher) (born 1990), Venezuelan baseball player
Carlos Pérez (kayaker) , Spanish kayaker
Carlos Pérez de Bricio (1927–2022), Spanish businessman
Carlos Andrés Pérez (1922–2010), President of Venezuela
Carlota Pérez , Venezuelan economist
Carmen Victoria Pérez , Venezuelan model
Catalina Pérez (born 1989), Argentine footballer
Catalina Pérez (born 1994), Colombian footballer
Catalina Pérez Salinas , Chilean politician
Chris Pérez (born 1969), American guitarist
Chris Perez (baseball) (born 1985), American baseball player
Chris Perez (gridiron football) (born 1969), American player of gridiron football
Christian Perez (footballer born 1963) , French soccer player
Cionel Pérez (born 1996), Cuban baseball player
Clara Perez , Venezuelan actress
Cristina Pérez (judge) , American judge, host of Corte de Familia
Cristina Pérez (reporter) , Argentine television news journalist
Dámaso Pérez Prado , Cuban composer
Daniel Pérez (basketball) (born 1984), Paraguayan player
Danilo Pérez , Panamian pianist and composer
Darío Pérez-Flores [
es ] , Venezuelan painter
Davide Perez , Italian composer
Diego Pérez (footballer) , Uruguayan footballer
Diego Pérez (tennis) , Uruguayan tennis player
Eddie Perez (politician) , American politician
Eduardo Perez , Venezuelan baseball player
Eduardo Pérez , American baseball player
Eduardo Pérez Gonsalves , Spanish chess master
Efrén Pérez Rivera , Puerto Rican environmentalist
Elías Pérez Borjas [
es ] , Venezuelan cultural promoter, critic, writer, film producer
Elizabeth Pérez , Venezuelan television journalist
Emilio Pérez Touriño , Spanish politician
Emily Perez , American soldier, first female minority Command Sergeant at West Point
Enrique López Pérez , Spanish tennis player
Érik Pérez , Mexican mixed martial artist
Esteban Pérez , Argentine basketball player
Eury Pérez (disambiguation) , multiple people
Felipe Pérez Roque , Cuban politician, current foreign minister of the Republic of Cuba
Félix Javier Pérez , Puerto Rican basketball player
Fernando Perez (born 1983), American former
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder, current
San Francisco Giants coach
Fruto Chamorro Pérez , Nicaraguan military scientist and politician
Florentino Pérez , Spanish businessman
Francisco Pérez (baseball) (born 1997), Dominican baseball player
Francisco Pérez Sierra , Spanish painter
George Pérez , Puerto Rican-American illustrator and writer of comic books
Glória Perez , Brazilian screenwriter
Gloria Osuna Perez , American artist
Hanna Nicole Pérez [
es ] , American Latin pop singer, member of pop group Ha*Ash
Héctor Amodio Pérez , Uruguayan guerrilla fighter
Hernán Pérez , Venezuelan baseball player
Henrique Pérez Dupuy , Venezuelan banker
Hugo Pérez (soccer) (born 1963), American international soccer player
Hugo Pérez (footballer) (born 1968), Argentine international soccer player
Hugo Pérez La Salvia [
es ] , Venezuelan engineer
Ibán Pérez , Spanish volleyball player
Isaac Pérez Recao [
es ] , Venezuelan entrepreneur
Iván Pérez , Cuban-born Spanish water polo player
Jairo Pérez (cyclist) , Colombian track and road cyclist
Jairo Pérez (footballer) , Colombian footballer
Javier Pérez de Cuéllar , Peruvian diplomat, the fifth Secretary-General of the United Nations
Jean-Claude Perez (born 1964), French politician
Jefferson Pérez , Ecuadorian track and field athlete
Jérôme Pérez , French soccer player
Jesús Pérez (boxer) (born 1971), Colombian boxer
Jesús Pérez (cyclist) (born 1984), Venezuelan road cyclist
Joe Perez (baseball) (born 1999), American baseball player
Johan Pérez , Venezuelan boxer
Jorge M. Pérez , Cuban American real estate developer
Jose Perez (American football) (born 1985), American football player and former baseball player
José Pérez (athlete) , (born 1971), Cuban hurdler
José Pérez (fencer) (born 1958), Spanish Olympic fencer
José Pérez (pentathlete) (born 1928), Mexican Olympic modern pentathlete and fencer
José Pérez (Venezuelan boxer) (born 1964), former Venezuelan boxer
José Pérez Adán (born 1952), Spanish sociologist
José Pérez Ferrada (born 1985), Chilean footballer
José Pérez Francés (1936–2021), Spanish road racing cyclist
José Pérez Reyes (born 1975), boxer from the Dominican Republic
José Pérez Rosa , Puerto Rican senator and politician
José Joaquín Pérez (1801–1889), Chilean political figure
José Luis Pérez (equestrian) (born 1943), Mexican equestrian
José María Pérez de Urdininea (1784–1865), president of Bolivia
José Miguel Pérez (fencer) (born 1938), Puerto Rican fencer
José Miguel Pérez (triathlete) (born 1986), Spanish triathlete
José Ricardo Pérez (born 1963), Colombian football defender
Joseph Pérez , French historian specializing in Spanish history
Juan Bautista Pérez , President of Venezuela
Juan José Pérez Hernández , Spanish explorer
Juan Silvano Diaz Perez (1914–1969), Paraguayan chess master, poet, teacher, essayist and literary critic.
Juan Pablo Pérez Alfonzo , Venezuelan diplomat, politician
Julia Perez (1980–2017), Indonesian singer and actress
Julia Pérez, later
Marina Baura , Venezuelan actress
Karlee Pérez , ring name "Maxine", American professional wrestler, manager and authority figure
Kenda Perez (born 1983), American model and host
Kenneth Perez , Danish football player
Kevin Perez , also known as Kay Flock, American rapper
Laura Pérez Vernetti (born 1958), Spanish cartoonist and illustrator
Leander Perez , Louisiana judge
Lisandro Pérez (born 2000), Venezuelan footballer
Louie Pérez (born 1953), American songwriter, percussionist and guitarist
Lucas Pérez (born 1988), Spanish footballer
Lucas Pérez Godoy (born 1993), Argentine footballer
Luis Perez (American football) (born 1994), American football player
Luis Pérez-Oramas (born 1960), Venezuelan poet, art historian and curator
Luis Pérez-Sala (born 1959), Spanish race car driver.
Luis Alberto Pérez-Rionda , Cuban sprinter
Luis Eladio Pérez , Colombian politician
Luis Ernesto Pérez , Mexican footballer
Luisana Pérez , Venezuelan journalist
Luisana Pérez , Venezuelan
table tennis player
Manuel Perez (animator) (1914–1981), American animator
Manuel Pérez (boxer) (born 1984), Mexican-American boxer
Manuel Pérez (guerrilla leader) (died 1988), leader of the Colombian National Liberation Army from the 1970s to 1998
Manuel Perez (musician) (1871–1946), American cornetist and bandleader
Manuel Pérez (President of Nicaragua) (died 1852), President of Nicaragua 1843–1844
Manuel Pérez (teacher) (1890–1951), Puerto Rican teacher and public servant
Manuel Perez, Jr. (1923–1945), American soldier and Medal of Honor recipient
V. Manuel Perez (born 1973), California State Assemblyman, 80th District
Manuel Pérez Brunicardi (born 1978), Spanish ski mountaineer
Manuel Pérez Flores (born 1980), Mexican footballer
Manuel Pérez Guerrero [
es ] , Venezuelan politician
Marcos Pérez Jiménez , President of Venezuela 1952–1958
María Dolores Pérez Enciso , Spanish-born Mexican writer and journalist
María Luisa Pérez Herrero (1898–1934), Spanish painter
Mariano Ospina Pérez , President of Colombia 1946–1950
Mariela Pérez Branger , Venezuelan model
Marina Pérez , Spanish fashion model
Mario Pérez Saldivar , Mexican long-distance runner
Mario Pérez Zúñiga , Mexican footballer
Martín Pérez (baseball) , Venezuelan baseball player
Mélido Pérez , Dominican Republic baseball player
Melina Perez , American professional wrestler
Mercedes Pérez , Colombian weightlifter
Mercedes Pérez Merino (born 1960), Spanish trade unionist and politician
Michael Pérez (born 1992), Puerto Rican baseball player
Miguel Perez (disambiguation) , several people
Montse Pérez , Catalan actress
Narcisa Pérez Reoyo (1849–1876), Spanish writer
Neifi Pérez , Dominican Republic baseball player
Néstor Luis Pérez Luzardo [
es ] , Venezuelan lawyer
Ninoska Pérez Castellón ,Cuban exile leader and radio host
Odalis Pérez , Dominican Republic baseball player
Óliver Pérez , Mexican baseball player
Orlando Perez , American soccer player
Óscar Pérez Bovela , Spanish football player
Óscar Pérez Rojas , Mexican football player
Otto Pérez Molina , Guatemalan politician, retired military and the President of Guatemala
Pablo Pérez Álvarez , Venezuelan lawyer, politician and former Governor of Zulia State
Pascual Pérez (boxer) , Argentine flyweight
Patricia Pérez (footballer) , Mexican female footballer
Patricia Pérez (born 2004), Spanish rhythmic gymnast
Pedro Pérez , Cuban triple jumper
Rafael Pérez (baseball) , Mexican baseball player
Rafael Pérez Pareja (1836–1897), president of Ecuador
Ricardo Pérez Godoy , Peruvian politician, President of the Military Junta
Richard Ray Perez , American film producer and director
Robert Pérez (baseball) (born 1969), Venezuelan baseball player
Robert Pérez Palou , Spanish painter
Roberto Pérez (born 1988), Puerto Rican baseball player
Rodolfo Pérez (field hockey) , Argentine field hockey player
Rolando Perez , American mixed martial artist
Romina Pérez (born 1958), Bolivian politician
Rosie Perez , American actress, dancer, choreographer and director
Rudy Pérez , Cuban-American composer and producer
Salvador Pérez , Venezuelan baseball player
Sara Pérez (disambiguation)
Sébastien Pérez , French soccer player
Sergio Pérez , Mexican F1 driver
Silverio Pérez , Puerto Rican entertainer
Silverio Pérez (bullfighter) , Mexican bullfighter
Thomas Perez , United States Secretary of Labor
Tomás Pérez , Venezuelan baseball player
Tony Pérez , Cuban-American baseball player
Udón Pérez [
es ] , Venezuelan poet and writer
Vicente Pérez Rosales , Chilean colonization agent
Victor Perez , Tunisian Jewish world champion flyweight boxer
Victor Perez , French professional golfer
Vincent Pérez , Swiss actor
Wilson Pérez , Colombian football defender
Williams Pérez , Venezuelan baseball player
Yolanda Pérez , Mexican-American singer who specializes in banda music
Yorkis Pérez , Dominican Republic baseball player
Fictional characters with the surname
See also
References
Surnames associated with the given name
Peter Baltic Celtic Germanic Hellenic Romance Slavic Other