Perlman
A surname most likely meaning “pearl man,” originally from a Germanic or Yiddish-speaking naming tradition.
The #8,962 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 84,518 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Perlman is usually understood as a compound of Perl, meaning “pearl” in German and Yiddish, plus man, “man.” In surname use, this often points to a trade, a nickname, or an ornamental name rather than a literal “man who works with pearls.” In Jewish naming practice, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, surnames built from attractive words like Perl were fairly common.
History
The name is especially associated with Ashkenazi Jewish families from German- and Yiddish-speaking regions. It may have arisen independently in several places, either as an inherited surname or as a name adopted during the period when fixed surnames became mandatory in parts of Europe. In English-speaking countries it is now best known through Jewish diaspora communities.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Perl- was a popular element in many Jewish ornamental surnames because it sounded pleasant and carried a positive association.