Índice de contenidos
Origin of the Surname Pérez-Tome
The surname Pérez-Tome presents a geographical distribution that, according to available data, shows a significant presence in Spain, with an incidence of 33%. The concentration in this country, along with the presence in other Spanish-speaking countries, suggests that its origin is probably linked to the Iberian Peninsula, specifically to the tradition of compound surnames that combine a patronymic with a given name or an additional element. The presence in Latin America, although not specified in the data, would be consistent with the colonization and migration processes that have characterized the expansion of Spanish surnames on the continent. The current distribution, centered in Spain and with a possible presence in Latin American countries, allows us to infer that the surname has roots in the Spanish onomastic tradition, possibly with an origin that dates back to the Middle Ages, when patronymic surnames began to be consolidated in the Iberian Peninsula. The structure of the surname, which combines "Pérez" and "Tome", may also reflect a family union or a regional differentiation, which would be typical in the formation of compound surnames in the Hispanic tradition.
Etymology and Meaning of Pérez-Tome
The surname Pérez-Tome is composed of two elements clearly identifiable in Spanish onomastics. The first component, "Pérez", is a patronymic surname that derives from the proper name "Pedro", with the suffix "-ez", characteristic of Spanish surnames that indicate filiation or descent. In this case, "Perez" would mean "son of Peter." The formation of patronymics with the suffix "-ez" is one of the most distinctive characteristics of nomenclature in the Iberian Peninsula, which was consolidated in the Middle Ages and spread in modern times as a way of identifying people based on their paternal lineage.
The second element, "Take", can have several interpretations. Firstly, "Tome" could derive from the proper name "Tomás", in which case, the compound surname would be a union of two patronymics: "Pérez" (son of Pedro) and "Tome" (possibly son of Tomás). However, it is also plausible that "Tome" is a regional or dialect form of "Tomé" or "Toméz", variants that could have arisen in different areas of the peninsula. Another hypothesis is that "Tome" has a toponymic origin or is related to a place name, although this option would be less likely given the patronymic nature of "Pérez".
From a linguistic point of view, "Tome" could have roots in the Latin "Thomas", which gave rise to names like "Tomás" in Spanish, or in dialect forms that have evolved in different regions. The presence of "Tome" in a compound surname suggests that, in its origin, it could have been used to distinguish different family branches or to reflect a union of lineages in the same noble family or of certain social relevance.
As for its classification, "Pérez-Tome" would be considered a compound patronymic surname, given that both components seem to derive from proper names. The structure reflects a tradition of joining surnames that, in some cases, was used to preserve the identity of different family lineages or to distinguish themselves in specific social contexts.
History and Expansion of the Surname
The probable origin of the surname Pérez-Tome is located in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Spain, where the tradition of patronymics with "-ez" suffixes was deeply rooted since the Middle Ages. The formation of compound surnames, as in this case, could have arisen in noble contexts or in rural communities where family differentiation was important for social organization and the transmission of lineages.
During the Middle Ages, in the context of the consolidation of the Christian kingdoms on the peninsula, surnames began to adopt more standardized forms. The presence of "Pérez" as a patronymic derived from "Pedro" is very common throughout Spain, especially in regions such as Castilla, Aragón and León. The addition of "Tome" could have been a way to distinguish different family branches or to reflect marriage alliances between noble or middle-class lineages.
With the arrival of colonization in the 15th and 16th centuries, many Spaniards emigrated to America, taking their surnames with them. The dispersion of the Pérez-Tome surname in Latin American countries would, therefore, be a reflection of these migratory movements. The concentration in Spain, on the other hand, may be due to the fact that the surname has not spread widely outside its region of origin, orthat has been preserved in specific areas where the founding families maintained their identity.
The process of expansion of the surname may also be linked to historical events such as the Reconquista, internal civil wars in the peninsula, and internal migrations to rural or urban areas. The presence in Latin America, in particular, would be the result of colonization and subsequent internal migration in Latin American countries, where Spanish surnames were consolidated as part of the cultural identity.
In summary, the current distribution of the Pérez-Tome surname reflects a history of roots in the Iberian Peninsula, with possible expansion through colonization and subsequent migrations. The patronymic structure and the union of proper names in the surname suggest that its origin can go back to the Middle Ages, in a context where family differentiation and nobility played an important role in the formation of surnames.
Variants of the Surname Pérez-Tome
In the analysis of variants, it is likely that there are different spelling forms or regional adaptations of the Pérez-Tome surname. For example, in some regions, especially in areas where pronunciation or writing differs, it could be found as "Perez-Tome" without an accent, or with slight modifications in the spelling of "Tome".
Likewise, in other languages or international contexts, the surname could have been adapted to forms such as "Perez Tome" (without a hyphen) or even "Pérez de Tome" in certain historical records. The influence of other languages, such as French or Italian, could have generated phonetic or graphic variants, although these would be less frequent given the clearly Spanish structure of the surname.
As for related surnames, those that contain the element "Pérez" or "Tome" in their structure, such as "Pérez de Toma" or "Tomez", could be considered variants or surnames with a common root. The presence of these in different regions may reflect family alliances, changes in spelling over time, or adaptations to different dialects and writing systems.
In short, the variants of the Pérez-Tome surname, although they are not abundant in the available data, probably reflect the regional adaptations and phonetic evolutions that have occurred in the history of the Spanish language and in the communities where this surname has been established.
