William Peverel was a natural son of William the Conqueror, who entered England at the Conquest. 'In Domesday it is continually spelt Piperellus. Mr. Planche: (Journal of Arch. Assoc. viii. 196) conjectures that it had a personal signification, and that' it is a corruption of Puerulus, which is almost identical with Peuerellus, as we find it written in the Anglo-Norman Pipe and Plea Rolls' (v. Lower's Patr. Brit). This would make the meaning to be Littleboy. It does not seem satisfactory. In any case Pepperall, Pepperell, and Pepperill are variants of Peverall.

Pagan Peverel, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Richard Peverel, Huntingdonshire, ibid.

Sir Hugh le Peverel (sic), 1344: History of Norfolk.

1757. Married — Benjamin Pepperel and Mary Grange: St. George, Hanover Square.

1806. — George Hillem and Margaret Peverell: ibid.

PEVEREL: William Peverel was a natural son of William the Conqueror, who entered England at the Conquest, and received, as his share of the subjugated country, one hundred and sixty-two manors, many of which were in the counties of Nottingham and Derby. The surname appears not to be local. I know of no place so called in Normandy; nor do we meet with any instance of its being prefixed by De. In Domesday Book it is continually spelt Piperellus-"Terra Ranulphi Piperelli." Mr. Planche (Journal of Arch. Assoc, viii. 196) conjectures that it had a personal signification; and that "it is a corruption of Puerulus, which is almost identical with Peuerellus, as we find it written in the Anglo-Norman Pipe and Plea Bolls. Thew being pronounced v is now stigmatized as ' cockney.' It may, in those days, particularly by Frenchmen, have been considered correct." H this ingenious etymology be true, the old surname Littletoys, borne by a gentry family formerly resident at Wickham, co. Bucks, and Ashburnham, co. Sussex, may be a literal translation of this great baronial appellative.