Origins of the Parry surname

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

Start free trial
“
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
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

OrkneyShetlandHighlandsWestern IslesGrampianTaysideCentralStrathclydeFifeLothianBordersDumfriesNorth East 295North West 1526Isle of Man 22Yorkshire 647East Midlands 186West Midlands 749East 371London 5020South East 704South West 3522South Wales 1696Mid Wales 442West Wales 62North Wales 3374Republic of IrelandNorthern Ireland

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.

24,000 Parry Travel & migration records
220,000 Parrys found in all Census records

Interesting facts about Parry

How common is your surname?

203rd most common surname in the UK

We have for the Parry surname. The oldest one dates back to 1532.

Who were Parrys most likely to marry?

Our tell us which families married Parrys.

What are the most common Parry first names?

John

William

Mary

Elizabeth

Our tell us the names of Parry family members
Man with milk churns and census card collage
Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

Common jobs for Parrys

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

Commmon female occupations for Parrys in 1921

Dressmaker

1,084

House Servant

667

Domestic Servant

664

General Servant Domestic

656

General Servant

616

Commmon male occupations for Parrys in 1921

Coal Miner

1,295

Farmer

1,259

General Labourer

723

Coal Miner Hewer

693

Joiner

691

We found over 280,000 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

Learn more about the lives of Parry family members

How rare is your surname?

Have you ever wondered if your family na...

The rise and fall of these disappearing British surnames

Could your surname be on the brink of di...

English surnames explained: The seven types of last names you should know

Ever wondered where our last names come...

How to find the maiden names of women in your family tree

Try these simple tricks to pinpoint your...

4 simple steps to starting your family history journey

Starting your family history journey is...

Share your discoveries

Share to WhatsApp

Share to Facebook

Look for a different surname

Paper tear line

Find out more about your family in our records

    or try an advanced search