Pellerin
A French surname originally meaning “pilgrim” or “one who has made a pilgrimage.”
The #9,912 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 94,736 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Pellerin comes from Old French pelerin, meaning “pilgrim.” The word ultimately goes back to Latin peregrinus, “a foreigner” or “traveler,” and in medieval usage it came to mean someone on a religious journey. As a surname, it likely began as a nickname or identifying label for a pilgrim, devotional traveler, or someone connected with pilgrimage.
History
The name is well established in French-speaking areas, especially western France and later French Canada. It is also found among Francophone communities in North America, where it has remained a recognizable French surname. Older surname dictionaries regularly group Pellerin with other pilgrimage-related names such as Pelerin and Pellegrin.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The root behind Pellerin is the same one that gave English the word “pilgrim.”
From the historical record
“Pell, 447. Pellerin, 186. Pellet, 96. Pelletier, 447.”
— Suffolk Surnames (3rd ed.)