Parrett
A surname usually treated as a spelling variant of Perrott, ultimately from the pet form of Peter.
The #8,848 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 83,377 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Parrett is generally explained as a variant of Perrott or Parrott, surnames built on the medieval French pet form Pierrot, from Pierre, meaning Peter. In that line of development, the name is ultimately a patronymic: “the son of Peter.” The medieval spellings were fluid, so forms such as Perott, Perrott, Parritt, and Parrett often overlap in old records.
History
The historical excerpts show Parrett appearing as a recorded spelling in the 16th century, alongside related forms like Perott and Perrott. Later surname dictionaries usually treat it as one of several English variants of the Peter-derived family of names, rather than a separate independent surname. The modern bearers are relatively few, suggesting it remained a minor regional spelling rather than a dominant standardized form.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Old surname collections note that Parrett and its close variants could be written many different ways for the same family in early records.
From the historical record
“Porramora.— Nick.; v. Para- PuTRtt, Parrett, Farritt, Farrott, Ferratt, Psrrett, Perot, Perrot, Perrott, Por- rett. — (i) Bapt 'the son of Peter,' from Fr. Pierre, dim. Perrol or Parrot (iilEle Peter).”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances