This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the park,' from residence therein. It must not be forgotten that while Park may be pluralized into Parks and Parkes (compare Bridges, Styles, Sykes, Dykes), it is just as likely that they are abbreviations of Parkins; compare Perkins (v. Parkin).

John del Pare, Suffolk, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Roger atte Parke, 1301. Writs of Parliament.

William atte Park, Close Rolls, 29 Edward III.

William Aparke was seized of the manor of Parke, Gloucestershire: Visitation of Gloucestershire (Harl. Soc).

1611. Baptised — Eliz , d. Thomas Parkes: St. James, Clerkenwell.

A family of this name held the lands of Perk in the parish of Erskine, from which they derived their name. The family ended in three daughters, co-heiresses, in the reiga of James IV (Crawfurd, p. 114). Robert de Perco witnessed a charter by Earl David, c. 1202-07 (LAC., 5), and c. 1210 witnessed anothei charter by Walter Olifard, junior (SHR., II, p. 175). Sir David de Perco attested a quit-claim by Richard de Bancori to Robert de Brus of the whole land of Loyerwode (Locharwood), a. 1249 (Bain, I, 1684). John of Parc witnessed a mandate by Alexander 111 in 1266 (Milne, p. 3), and a charter by William de Moravia in favor of the House of Soltre, c. 1278-94 (Soltre, p. 39), and another charter by Willelmus de Morauya, panetarius Scocie, 1292 (REG., p. 202). Sir Johan del Park of Berwickshire rendered homage in 1296 and was juror at Berwick in the same year (Bain, II, P. 206,215). Walterus de Park in the parish or Fyvie was excommunicated in 1382 (REA., I, p. 165), and Robert II in the fourth year of his reign confirmed a charter of John, earl of Carrick, to John de Perk of various lands in the barony of Kilbride. Master Gilbert de Perk was rector of the church of Colbwantoun or Colbanton, 1429-30 (REG., p. 322,326), John of Perk was presbyter of Glasgow diocese, 1433 (LCD., p. 248), and James of Perk witnessed an instrument of sasine of lands of Aldcathy (Linlithgowshire), 1436 (HMC., 12. Rep., App. 8, p. 109). Thomas de Perk held land in Aberdeen, 1445 (CRA., p. 15), Finlaus Perk, burgess of Irvine, gave support to a chaplain there, 1455 (Irvine, I, p. 145George Perk had remission for his share in burning the town of Dunbertane, 1489 (Lennox, II, p. 133), and John Park of Dubbs was heir of Alexander Park, his grandfather, 1673 (Retours, Ayr, 588). Mungo Perk (1771-1806), African explorer, was born in Selkirkshire. The surname was common in Glasgow in the sixteenth century. (2) There seems to have been a family of (his name, Chlann ic Phairce, in South Uist, but they "ere nearly extinct here now. I only know one man of that name in the whole of South Uist, where there were many of that name formerly" (Dr. Alexander Carmichael, in J. F. Campbell's Leabhar na Feinne, 1872 p. 200).

(English and Anglo-French) Dweller in an Enclosed Ground [Middle English parke, parrok, Old English pearroc, an enclosure, park (Old French parc is prob. from Teutonic] John del Parc.—Hundred Rolls Roger atte Parke.—Parl. Writs.

(English) Dweller near the enclosed space stocked with game for use of the king or great nobles.

From residence near a park. Anciently At-Parke and A Parke. See , however, Peter.

From pare, a field, enclosure, park for beasts. There is a place called Park in the parish of St. Clement's.

Richard, William, Sylvester, John, Robert, Philip de Parco, Normandy 1180-95 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae); Richard, William, Thomas de P., Engl. c. 1198 (Rotuli Curiae Regis). Parc was near Valognes. Hence descended Baron Park.

A frequent location name. Or from the Dutch, Park; from the French, Parc; personal name Richard de Parco held lands in Lincolnshire, temp. King John.