PEREZ, PERES
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name is a patronymic, derived from a male ancestor's personal name, in this case of biblical origin.
The Jewish surnames Perez and Peres are based on the Hebrew biblical male personal name Peretz, which means "he who bursts forth"; Perez was one of the twins born to Judah by Tamar. In the 18th century, Peres is recorded as a Jewish family name in a 'ketubbah' from Tunis dated July 10, 1788, of Reine, daughter of Juda Peres, and her husband Joseph, son of Abraham Bellaiche.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Perez include Aron Perez (died 1866), who was chief rabbi of Djerba, Tunisia, author of 'Bagdi Ahron' (1758) and of 'Mishha Aaron' (Livorno, 1806); the 17th century Amsterdam rabbi, Juda Perez, and the 20th century Tangiers-born Brazilian jurist and educator, David Perez.