Perkins is a surname derived from the Anglo-Saxon corruption of the kin of Pierre (from Pierre kin to Pierrekin to Perkins), introduced into England by the Norman Conquest. 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 form of Peredur, from Medieval Welsh.
People named Perkins include:
Al Perkins, musician-guitaristAnthony Perkins (1932–1992), American actorBenjamin Douglas Perkins (1774–1810), son of Elisha Perkins, bookseller and propagandist of therapy with "Perkins tractors"Bill Perkins (disambiguation)Bishop Perkins (1787–1866), U.S. Representative from New YorkBishop W. Perkins (1841–1894), U.S. Representative and Senator from KansasBrian Perkins, anchor, newsreader on BBC Radio 4 - New ZealandCarl Perkins, musicianCarl Christopher Perkins, politician, Kentucky RepresentativeCarl Dewey Perkins (1912–1984), politician, Kentucky RepresentativeCharles A. Perkins, American lawyerCharles Callahan Perkins (1823–1886), authorCharles L. Perkins, authorCharles N. Perkins, Australian football and political figureCharles S. Perkins, American baseball playerCharlotte Perkins Gilman (1860–1935), American sociologist, writer and utopian feministCyril Perkins (1911–2013), English cricketer and centenarianDaryl Perkins, Australian track cyclistDon Perkins, National Football League running back for the Dallas CowboysEdward J. Perkins, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.Edwin Perkins, various including:Edwin Perkins (inventor), American inventor of Kool-AidEdwin King Perkins, British Conservative Party Member of ParliamentEd Perkins, Canadian mathematicianElisha Perkins (1741–1799), physicianElizabeth Perkins, actressEmily Perkins, actressEmily Perkins (novelist)Emily Pitkin Perkins, wife of Connecticut Governor and US Senator Roger Sherman BaldwinFrances Perkins, labor leader and U.S. Secretary of LaborFrank Perkins (disambiguation)Frederic Beecher Perkins (1828-1899), United States editor, librarian and writerGeoffrey Perkins (1953–2008), comedy producer, writer, and performer – BBCGeorge Perkins (disambiguation)Gil Perkins, Australian film and television actorHenry Perkins (cricketer) (1832–1916), English cricketer and cricket administratorHenry Farnham Perkins (1877–1956), American zoologist and eugenicistIan Perkins, American musician/guitarist now in the band The Horrible CrowesIsabel Weld Perkins, socialite philanthropistJack Perkins (disambiguation)Jacob Perkins (1766–1849), inventor: bank-note engraving, engravings transfer, bathometer, pleometerJanet Russell Perkins (1853–1933), American botanistJohn Perkins (disambiguation)Josh Perkins (born 1995), American basketball playerKathleen Rose Perkins (born 1974), American actressKendrick Perkins, player for the National Basketball Association Oklahoma City ThunderKieren Perkins, Olympic gold medal swimmerLarry Perkins, Formula 1 race car driverLaurence Perkins, British classical bassoonistLuther Perkins (1928–1968), guitarist, including backing guitarist for Johnny CashMarlin Perkins, ecologist and naturalistMaxwell Perkins, editor for F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Thomas WolfeMichael J. Perkins, American Medal of Honor recipientMillie Perkins, actorNiles Perkins (1919–1971), American athlete and physicianPaul Perkins (born 1994), American football playerPinetop Perkins (1913–2011), musician – blues pianistRay Perkins (born 1941), an American football coach and former playerSam Perkins (born 1961), retired National Basketball Association playerShane Perkins, Australian track cyclistStephanie Perkins, authorStephen Perkins, musician, drummer, and songwriter – Jane's AddictionSue Perkins, television presenter, actress, and writerTex Perkins, Australian singer-songwriterThomas Perkins (cricketer) (1870–1946), English cricketer, footballer and schoolmasterThomas Handasyd Perkins (1764–1854), businessman, philanthropistTom Perkins, founder/principal venture capital firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & ByersTony Perkins (evangelical Christian figure)Tony Perkins (television meteorologist)Tracy Perkins, courtmartialed US Army sergeantTroy Perkins, soccer player for the Portland TimbersWarren Perkins (1922–2014), American professional basketball playerWilliam Perkins (cricketer) (born 1986), West Indian cricketerWilliam Perkins (Puritan) (1558–1602), preacher, Elizabethan puritanWilliam T. Perkins, Jr., United States Marine and Medal of Honor recipientFictional characters include:
Ma Perkins, star of the radio soap opera from 1933 to 1960Perkins, character in the Harry Potter booksAnn Perkins, a character in the NBC sitcom Parks And RecreationHarry Perkins, principal character in the novel and TV adaptation A Very British CoupPerch Perkins, a news anchorman in the TV series Spongebob SquarepantsCompanies
Perkins Engines, a UK based diesel engine manufacturerPerkins Restaurant and Bakery, a North American restaurant chain.