Petry
A surname usually from the personal name Peter, especially in continental European forms like Petri or Petit/Pétri.
The #6,178 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 55,750 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Petry is generally a surname built from the given name Peter, ultimately from Latin Petrus, meaning 'rock' or 'stone.' In continental records it often appears as a shortened or altered form of Petri, Petry, or similar Peter-based forms. The excerpts also suggest it was treated as a French or Germanic surname form rather than a separate root word.
History
The name is found in French and Germanic surname traditions, where Peter-based surnames often became Petri, Petry, Petrie, or related spellings. It likely spread through Christian naming customs, since Peter was one of the most common baptismal names in medieval Europe. In modern usage it remains relatively uncommon but is established in the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
One of the old source notes explicitly equates Petry with Petri, showing how closely these surname spellings were connected in historical indexes.
From the historical record
“Pétrin, Petron. Dér. de Petre. Petrus , Petry. F. latines de Pierre. Pettel, Pettelot.Pettex. Pilon (pestel, pestax, oil).”
— Dictionnaire des noms (French surnames)