Perls

Perls is a surname of German origin. It is derived from the German word perle (pearl) and likely originated as an occupational nickname or descriptive name for someone associated with pearls or valued as a “pearl” within a community. The name has appeared in biographies and historical records in German-speaking areas and among diaspora communities in the Americas and elsewhere.

Notable individuals with the surname include Fritz Perls (1893–1970), a German-born psychiatrist and psychotherapist who, with his wife Laura Perls, helped develop Gestalt therapy. Fritz Perls is commonly regarded as a founder of the movement. Laura Perls (1905–1990) was a German-born psychologist and psychotherapist who contributed significantly to Gestalt therapy and collaborated closely with Fritz Perls in its development.

The Perls surname remains relatively uncommon and is most often encountered in contexts related to German heritage or the history of Gestalt therapy. In contemporary references, it is distinct from Perl, which is a different surname, and is not related to the Perl programming language, named after its creator, Larry Wall.