Perlman

Perlman is a surname of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, typically derived from a Yiddish or German root meaning pearl, and formed with the common surname suffix -man. The name may have originated as a nickname for someone who wore or dealt with pearls, or as a patronymic or occupational name associated with pearls. Variants in spelling include Perelman, Perlmann, and Pearlman, among others.

As a family name, Perlman is found in many countries with Jewish diasporic communities, and is particularly common in the United States and Israel. The distribution reflects immigration and settlement patterns of Jewish populations in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Notable individuals with the surname include Ron Perlman, an American actor known for film and television roles such as Hellboy and Beauty and the Beast, and Steve Perlman, an American technology entrepreneur who helped develop WebTV, MobiTV, and OnLive.

Related surnames include Perelman, Perlmann, and Pearlman.