Percival Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Percival last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Percival last name
Meaning of the Percival last name: pierce the valley. Percival is an English surname from the personal name Perceval, made famous by the Arthurian knight of the Grail story, from a Norman place name. Spencer Perceval is the only British prime minister to have been assassinated. The last name is found across England.
Arms associated with the Percival name
Heraldry associated with the Percival surname uses a few strong colours, and each coat of arms has its own blazon.
Get your full Percival family history
This is only a glimpse of the Percival story. The full Percival history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Percival coat of arms. Get the full Percival report.
Percival name FAQ
What does the Percival name mean?
Pierce the valley. Common variants include Percivall, Parsifal.
Where does the Percival surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Percival coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Percival coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).