Recorded as Peverall, Pevreal, Peverell, Peperall, Pepperall, Pepperrall, Pepperell, and Pepperill, this is an ancient English surname althpough arguably one of French origins. According to the famous Victorian etymologist Canon Charles Bardsley writing in the year 1880, 'William Peverel was a natural son of Duke William of Normandy, otherwise known as The Conqueror, who entered England in 1066'. He went on to say that the name was a corruption of the Latinized French name 'Peurerellus' meaning 'Little boy', and hence a baptismal name of endearment for a second or perhaps favoured son. Professor Reaney writing in about 1955 has a slightly different translation taking it from the Latin word 'piper' meaning pepper, and hence a nickname for a small man with a fiery temper! The sons of William the Conqueror may well have been hot tempered. William 11nd (1087 -1100 and known as 'Rufus', was certainly fiery, and came to the almost unique end of being shot (it is claimed) by his own arrow. In this case the surname is first recorded in the Domesday Book of Kent in 1086, with that of Rannulus Peurellus, whilst in the year 1186 we have the recording of Richard Peuerel also of Kent, and in Warwickshire in 1221 that of William Peperel.

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