Skip to content
  • Start free trial

Origins of the Parry surname

A collage of historical images including two family portraits and a postcard of people boarding a ship

What does the name Parry mean?

The Parry surname is believed to have originated in Wales. It's a patronymic surname that comes from the Welsh naming tradition, where those who were the son or descendant of Harry (a diminutive of Henry) would have the suffix 'ap Harry', which later abridged to 'Parry'. Owing to this heritage, it is still most often found in Wales.

Alternative variations of the name Parry

Parry, Parrie, Parie, Paree, Pirry

“

I’ve managed to trace back to the mid-1500s! I can’t believe it! Utterly engrossing and I have uncovered some quite moving and heartbreaking stories attached to various ancestors. You don’t need any qualifications to start - just time patience, and some information.

SS
Stuart
TrustPilot review
1 of 3

Start your family tree

Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Parrys.

Sign up to get started

Delve deeper into the Parry family's history

Where do most Parrys live?

In 1921, most Parrys lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Parrys

How common is your surname?

203rd most common surname in the UK

We have 228,000 records for the Parry surname. The oldest one dates back to 1532.

Who were Parrys most likely to marry?

Joneses

&

Williamses

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Parrys.

What are the most common Parry first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Parry family members

Common jobs for Parrys

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Parrys in 1921
Dressmaker

1,084

House Servant

667

Domestic Servant

664

General Servant Domestic

656

General Servant

616

Common Male occupations for Parrys in 1921
Coal Miner

1,295

Farmer

1,259

General Labourer

723

Coal Miner Hewer

693

Joiner

691

An image of a census transcript and a picture of a dairy farmer holding two milk jugs

Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 270,000 family trees with the Parry surname

Trace your family back in time and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Parrys.

Search for a relative in our family trees

Share your discoveries

Find out more about your family in our records

or try an advanced search

Start your family history journey

Start free trial

Start free trial