Perkins is a surname derived from the

Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons, in some contexts simply called Saxons or the English, were a Cultural identity, cultural group who spoke Old English and inhabited much of what is now England and south-eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. They traced t ...

corruption of the kin of Pierre (from Pierre kin to Pierrekin to Perkins), introduced into

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

by the

Norman Conquest The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Normans, Norman, French people, French, Flemish people, Flemish, and Bretons, Breton troops, all led by the Du ...

. It is found throughout mid- and southern England. Another derivation comes from the Welsh Perthyn, relative or belonging to a particular person or family, and also thought to be the

Anglicized Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English language ...

form of Peredur, from medieval Welsh.

People

A to D

* A. E. Perkins (June 21, 1879 – April 19, 1946), American principal and author * Al Perkins, American guitarist * * Annie Stevens Perkins (1868–1911), American writer * Anthony Perkins (1932–1992), American actor * Archie Perkins (b 2002), Australian football league player * Arthur James Perkins (1871–1944), viticulturist and educationist in South Australia * Benjamin Douglas Perkins (1774–1810), American propagandist of "Perkins tractors" therapy * Bill Perkins (disambiguation), several people * Bishop Perkins (1787–1866), Congressman from New York * Bishop W. Perkins (1841–1894), U.S. Representative and Senator from Kansas * Brian Perkins, New Zealander anchor and newsreader on BBC Radio 4 * Bryce Perkins (born 1996), American football player * Broderick Perkins (born 1954), American baseball player *

Carl Perkins Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998)#nytimesobit, Pareles. was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. A rockabilly great and pioneer of rock and roll, he began his recording career at the Sun Studio, in Memphis, Tennes ...

(1932–1998), American singer-songwriter * Carl Christopher Perkins, politician, Kentucky Representative *

Carl Dewey Perkins Carl Dewey Perkins (October 15, 1912 – August 3, 1984) was an American politician and member of the United States House of Representatives from the Commonwealth of Kentucky serving from 1949 until his death from a heart attack in Lexington, ...

(1912–1984), politician, Kentucky Representative * Charles A. Perkins, American lawyer * Charles Callahan Perkins (1823–1886), American art critic and author * Charles L. Perkins, technology author * Charles N. Perkins, Australian football and political figure * Charles S. Perkins, American baseball player *

Charlotte Perkins Gilman Charlotte Anna Perkins Gilman (; née Perkins; July 3, 1860 – August 17, 1935), also known by her first married name Charlotte Perkins Stetson, was an American humanist, novelist, writer, lecturer, early sociologist, advocate for social reform ...

(1860–1935), American sociologist, writer and feminist * Cyril Perkins (1911–2013), English cricketer and centenarian *Daniel Perkins, of the Perkins Reluctant Phoenix British human-powered aircraft * Darius Perkins (1964–2019), Australian actor * Daryl Perkins, Australian track cyclist * Don Perkins, National Football League running back for the Dallas Cowboys * Doron Perkins, American basketball player of Israeli Basketball Premier League

E to K

* Edward J. Perkins, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations * Edwin Perkins (disambiguation), several people *

Elisha Perkins Elisha Perkins (January 16, 1741September 6, 1799) was an American physician who created a fraudulent medical device, the Perkins Patent Tractors. Although they were made of steel and brass, Perkins claimed that they were made of unusual metal al ...

(1741–1799), American physician * Elizabeth Perkins, American actress * Emily Perkins, Canadian actress * Emily Perkins (novelist), New Zealand author * Emily Pitkin Perkins, wife of Connecticut Governor and US Senator Roger Sherman Baldwin * Evora Bucknum Perkins (1851–1929), American educator, cookbook writer, and missionary * Flo Perkins, American glass artist *

Frances Perkins Frances Perkins (born Fannie Coralie Perkins; April 10, 1880 – May 14, 1965) was an American workers-rights advocate who served as the fourth United States Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945, the longest serving in that position. A member o ...

(1880–1965), American workers-rights advocate and U.S. Secretary of Labor * Frank Perkins (disambiguation), several people * Frederic Beecher Perkins (1828–1899), American editor, librarian and writer * Gastón Perkins (1928–2006), Argentine racing driver * Geoffrey Perkins (1953–2008), British comedy producer, writer, and performer * George Perkins (disambiguation), several people * Gil Perkins, Australian film and television actor * Henry Coit Perkins (1804–1873), American physician and amateur photographer * Henry Perkins (cricketer) (1832–1916), English cricketer and cricket administrator * Henry Farnham Perkins (1877–1956), American zoologist and eugenicist * Howard C. Perkins (1924-1995), American war hero from Kansas * Hugh V. Perkins (1918–1988), American human development and education researcher * Ian Perkins, American musician/guitarist of the band The Horrible Crowes *

Isabel Weld Perkins Isabel Anderson (March 29, 1876 – November 3, 1948), , was a Boston heiress, author, and society hostess who left a legacy to the public that includes a park and two museums. Life Early life Born at 284 Marlborough Street in Boston's B ...

(1876–1948), American socialite and philanthropist * J. Will Perkins (died 1926), American politician from Maryland * Jack Perkins (disambiguation), several people * Jacob Perkins (1766–1849), American engineer and inventor * Jacqueline Perkins (born 1965), Australian long-distance runner * Jacqueline Perkins (diplomat), British diplomat and ambassador * James Perkins (disambiguation), several people * Janet Russell Perkins (1853–1933), American botanist * Jason Perkins (born 1992), Filipino-Canadian basketball player * John Perkins (disambiguation), several people * Josephine Amelia Perkins (born c. 1818), British horse thief and prisoner * Josh Perkins (born 1995), American basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League * Julia Shepard Perkins (1799–1884), American writer and educator. * Katherine K. Perkins, American physics educator * Kathleen Rose Perkins (born 1974), American actress * Kendrick Perkins (born 1984), American basketball player * Kieren Perkins, Australian Olympic gold medal swimmer

L to R

* Larry Perkins, Australian Formula One race car driver *

Laurence Perkins Laurence Perkins (born 1954) is a British classical bassoonist. He studied under Charles Cracknell at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Perkins was principal bassoonist of the Manchester Camerata from 1974 to 2017. He has ...

, British classical bassoonist * Loftus Perkins, (1834–1891), English engineer * Luther Perkins, (1928–1968), American guitarist, backing guitarist for Johnny Cash * Marlin Perkins, American ecologist and naturalist *

Maxwell Perkins William Maxwell Evarts "Max" Perkins (September 20, 1884 – June 17, 1947) was an American book editor, best remembered for discovering authors Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and Thomas Wolfe. Early life and ...

, American editor for F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Wolfe * Michael J. Perkins, American

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

recipient * Millie Perkins, American film and television actor * Natalia Perkins, Russian and American physicist *

Niles Perkins Niles Lee Perkins, Jr. (July 1, 1919 – April 25, 1971) was an American athlete and physician. Perkins was United States champion in men's 35-lb weight throw in 1940 and held the weight throw indoor world record for nine years. He was also a go ...

(1919–1971), American athlete and physician * Osgood Perkins (1892–1937), American actor * Oz Perkins (born 1974), American screenwriter, director * Paul Perkins (born 1994), American football player * Pinetop Perkins (1913–2011), American blues pianist * Polly Perkins (born 1943), British actress, singer and writer * Ray Perkins (1941–2020), American football coach and former player * Reginald Perkins (1955–2009), American serial killer * Robbie Perkins (born 1994), Australian professional baseball player * Rodney Perkins (born 1936), physician and entrepreneur * Ronnie Perkins (born 1999), American football player

S to Z

* Sam Perkins (born 1961), National Basketball Association player * Samuel E. Perkins (1811–1879), Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court * Sarah Maria Clinton Perkins (1824–1905), American social reformer, newspaper editor * Scott Perkins (born 1980), American composer * Shane Perkins, Australian track cyclist * Stephanie Perkins, American author * Stephen Perkins, American musician, drummer, and songwriter with Jane's Addiction *

Sue Perkins Susan Elizabeth Perkins (born 22 September 1969) is an English actress, broadcaster, comedian, presenter and writer. Originally coming to prominence through her comedy partnership with Mel Giedroyc in ''Mel and Sue'', she progressed into radio a ...

, British television presenter, actress, comedian and writer * Tegwen Perkins (born 1955), Welsh golfer * Tex Perkins, Australian singer-songwriter * Thomas Perkins (cricketer) (1870–1946), English cricketer, footballer and schoolmaster * Thomas Clap Perkins (1798–1870), American lawyer and politician * Thomas Nelson Perkins (1870–1937), American lawyer from Massachusetts * Thomas Handasyd Perkins (1764–1854), American businessman and philanthropist * Tom Perkins, American businessman of Kleiner Perkins *

Toby Perkins Matthew Toby Perkins (born 12 August 1970) is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Chesterfield since 2010. He served as Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs from 2023 until 2024. He previously se ...

UK Labour Party MP and politician *

Tony Perkins (politician) Anthony Richard Perkins (born March 20, 1963) is an American politician and Southern Baptist pastor, who has served as president of the Family Research Council since 2003. Previously, he was a police officer and television reporter. From 1996 to ...

, American pastor, politician and activist * Tony Perkins (news anchor), American broadcast journalist, radio personality * Tracy Perkins, court-martialed US Army sergeant * Troy Perkins, American soccer player for the Portland Timbers * Victoria Perkins (born 2004), Welsh boxer * Warren Perkins (1922–2014), American professional basketball player * Wayne Perkins, lead session guitarist for The Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Everly Brothers * William Perkins (disambiguation), several people

Fictional characters

* Ann Perkins, in the American sitcom '' Parks and Recreation'' * Emma Perkins, protagonist in the musical '' The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals'' * Harry Perkins, principal character in the novel and TV adaptation '' A Very British Coup'' * Joe Perkins (Santa Barbara), on the American soap opera ''Santa Barbara'' *

Ma Perkins ''Ma Perkins'' (sometimes called ''Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins'') is an American radio soap opera that was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. It was also broadcast in Canada, and Radio Luxembourg carried it in Europe. T ...

, star of the radio soap opera from 1933 to 1960 * Perch Perkins, a news anchorman in the TV series ''

SpongeBob SquarePants ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' is an American animated television series, animated comedy television series created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. It first aired as a sneak peek after the 1999 Kids' C ...

'' * Polly Perkins (comics character), protagonist of the American comic strip ''Polly and Her Pals'' * Polly Perkins, a servant maid in the 1864 musical-hall song " Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green" * Quinn Perkins, on the television series ''Scandal'' * Rosie Perkins, protagonist in the 2023 film ''Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea'' * Perkins, a character in the Harry Potter books * Mr. Perkins, live-action host of ''

Thomas & Friends ''Thomas & Friends'' is a British children's television series which aired from 9 October 1984 to 20 January 2021. Based on ''The Railway Series'' books by Wilbert Awdry and his son Christopher Awdry, Christopher, the series was developed for ...

'' * Ms. Perkins, one of the lesser antagonists in the movie "