Pelerin

Pelerin is a term used mainly as a surname of French origin and, in its unaccented form, to refer to the French word pèlerin, meaning pilgrim. As a common noun in French, pèlerin denotes a person who undertakes a pilgrimage to a sacred site and has long been used in religious and literary contexts. The modern French form derives from Latin peregrinus, passing through Old French in the medieval period.

In linguistic and cultural use, pèlerin describes both the act of pilgrimage and the pilgrims themselves. The concept has appeared in religious texts, travel literature, and historical accounts of pilgrimage routes across Europe. Because the word marks a long-standing cultural practice, it can be encountered in discussions of medieval religion, saintly veneration, and the social history of travel.

As a surname, Pelerin has been carried by individuals and families in Francophone communities and their descendants. The name may reflect ancestral association with the occupation or status of a pilgrim, or function as a toponymic or descriptive surname. In diaspora populations, it can be found in North America, Africa, and the Caribbean, among others, where family names from France and its territories were preserved or adapted.

Notable people with the surname Pelerin span various fields, though specific biographies depend on available historical and contemporary sources. For further context, see also the accented form pèlerin, and related terms such as Peregrin or Pilgrim, which reflect cognate meanings in other languages.

See also: pèlerin, Peregrin, Pilgrim.