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Origin of the Surname Perigord
The surname Perigord has a geographical distribution that currently shows a significant presence in France, with an incidence of 211 records, and also in American countries, such as Bolivia (64), Canada (56) and the United States (15). In addition, a smaller presence is observed in European countries such as Belgium, the United Kingdom and the Dominican Republic, as well as in Haiti and Mauritius. The predominant concentration in France, especially in the Aquitaine region, where the historic province of Périgord is located, suggests that the surname has a toponymic origin in this area. The Périgord region, known for its cultural, historical and geographical wealth, was an important center in the Middle Ages and in the formation of regional identities in France.
The dispersion towards America and other European countries can be explained by the migratory processes, colonization and population movements that took place from the Modern Age onwards. The presence in Latin American countries, particularly in Bolivia and Canada, may be related to the emigration of French people to these regions, in search of opportunities or for political and economic reasons. The current distribution, therefore, reinforces the hypothesis that the surname Perigord has a French origin, specifically in the homonymous region, and that its expansion occurred mainly through migrations from France to other continents.
Etymology and Meaning of Perigord
The surname Perigord probably derives from a place name, specifically from the Périgord region in southwestern France. The structure of the name suggests a formation from linguistic elements typical of Old French and Latin, given that many French regions preserve names with Latin or Gallo-Roman roots. The word "Périgord" itself could be composed of the prefix "Peri-", which in some cases can relate to "around" or "near", and "Gord", which could derive from a Celtic or pre-Roman term referring to a hill, a land or a territory.
From an etymological point of view, "Perigord" can be interpreted as "around the land" or "near the territory", in reference to its toponymic character. The ending "-ord" is not common in other French names, but in the context of regional toponymy, it may be related to ancient terms denoting territory or boundaries. The presence of the surname in the form of a patronymic, toponymic or even occupational, would be consistent with the history of the region, which was a center of settlement and development during the Middle Ages.
The surname, in its modern form, is probably classified as toponymic, since it refers to a specific place. The adoption of the surname by families originating from Périgord would have been a way of identifying their geographical origin, especially in contexts of migration or social differentiation. The root "Peri-" may also have connections with Latin or Germanic terms that indicate closeness or belonging, reinforcing the idea of an origin in a delimited and known region.
History and Expansion of the Surname
The origin of the surname Perigord, based on its current distribution, is estimated to be closely linked to the homonymous region in France. During the Middle Ages, the Périgord region was an important territory in the formation of the kingdom of France and in the consolidation of local identities. The presence of toponymic surnames at that time was frequent, since families adopted the name of the place of residence or origin to distinguish themselves in records and documents.
The expansion of the surname outside France may be related to the migratory movements that occurred from the 16th century onwards, especially during the periods of European colonization and emigration to America and other continents. The presence in Bolivia and Canada, for example, may reflect waves of French migration that sought new opportunities in the New World, taking with them their surnames and traditions. The dispersion to countries such as the United States, Belgium and the United Kingdom may also be linked to economic, political or social movements, which motivated the migration of families with roots in the Périgord region.
It is important to consider that, in many cases, toponymic surnames such as Perigord remained relatively stable in their form, although in some countries or regions they may have undergone phonetic or orthographic adaptations. The presence in Latin American countries, in particular, may indicate that families carrying thissurname arrived in different migratory waves, and that its current distribution reflects both the history of the region of origin and the processes of colonization and internal colonization in the Americas.
Variants of the Surname Perigord
As for the variants of the surname Perigord, it is possible that there are different spelling forms or adaptations in other languages. However, since it is a toponymic surname, the variants are usually few. In some cases, abbreviated or altered forms could be found in historical records, such as "Perigord" unchanged, or with minor variations in writing in ancient documents.
In regions where French is not the predominant language, the surname could have been adapted phonetically or in writing, although there are no clear records of significant variants. The relationship with other surnames related to the region, or with similar roots, may include surnames containing elements such as "Peri-" or "Gord", although these do not necessarily share a direct origin. The influence of other languages, such as Occitan or Basque, in the Périgord region may also have contributed to small variations in the form of the surname in different times and places.
In summary, the surname Perigord seems to maintain a fairly stable form, reflecting its toponymic character and its strong link with the French region of the same name. The presence in other countries, on the other hand, may show minor phonetic or orthographic adaptations, but in general, its structure is preserved in the majority of historical and current records.
