From the parish and canton of Perci in St. Lo, Normandy. Alanus de Perci is one of the witnesses to David's Inquisitio anent the possessions of the church of Glasgow a. 1124 (REG., p. 5). Galfridus de Perci gave a carucate containing five score and four acres in Hetone (now Heiton) to Kelso Abbey, c. 1152 (Kelso, 358). Alan de Perci is one of the witnesses to David's grant of Estrahanent (Strath Nith) to Robert de Brus, a. 1153 (Nat. MSS., I, 19). Sara Percie appears in Hiesilsyde, parish of Douglas, 1668 (Lanark CR.). There is an article on 'The Percies of Scotland,' by Joseph Bain, in Archaeological journal, 1884, XLI, p. 335-341.

(French-Latin) belonging to Percy (Normandy), Percey (Yonne, Haute-Marne, &c.) = Persius’ Estate [Percy, Calvados, was Perceium A.D. 1198: -eium was frequently used as an equiv. of the Latin-Gaul. possess. suff. -ác-um. Persius is prob. borrowed from the Greek Perseus (Περσεύς), apparently a derivative from Greek πέρθω (aor. 1. έπερσα), to destroy; thus περσέ-πολις (persé-polis) is translated ‘destroyer of cities’] A de Pervi occurs in the mural list of ‘Compagnons de Guillaumeà la Conquête de l’Angleterre en MLXVI in Dives Church; Percy is mentioned in conjunction with Pygot in Leland’s supposed copy of the Roll of Battle Abbey; and de Percy is given in the Abbé de la Rue’s supplementary list in his ‘Recherches sur la Tapisserie de Bayeux’ (Caen, 1824) —“Wace est loin d’avoir transcrit les noms de tous les seigneurs qui aidèrent le Duc Guillaume dans son expédition.” Several de Percys occur in our 13th-cent. Hundred -Rolls.

The Persë owt of Northombarlande, And a vowe to God mayd he.—Chevy Chase, I. 1-2.

(English) One who came from Perci or Percy (Persius' estate), in Normandy.

William de Perci, who, with his brother Serlo, assisted in the Conquest of England, appears in Domesday as tenant in capite in many counties, especially in those of York and Lincoln. Perci is the name of a parish and canton near St. Lo, in Normandy, the ancient fief of the family. Dugdale traces the pedigree of William de Percy up to the Northman Mainfred, who settled in Neustria (Normandy) before the cession of that province to Rollo.

Local. The renowned family of Percy, of Northumberland, England, derived their name from Percy Forest, in the Province of Maen, Normandy, whence they came, which signifies a stony place, from pierre. It may signify a hunting place, from pirsen, Teutonic, to hunt; percer, French, to penetrate, to force one's way.

It has been noticed elsewhere (Chapter III.) that the early Percy pedigree is not authentic. The real origin may now be considered. Percy after 1026 became the property of a branch of the Tessons, the greatest baronial house in Normandy, and so continued in the reign of Richard I. (Stapleton, Mag. Rot. Scac. Norm. 1. lxxxiii., 2. xiii.) Ralph Tesson was of Anjou in the tenth century. Ralph Taxo, his son, witnessed with Fulco, Count of Anjou, a charter of King Robert 1028 (Gall. Christ. viii. 297 Instr.). He, or his father, acquired a barony in Normandy, perhaps by marriage, and founded the abbey of Fontenay (Gall. Christ. xi. 413); and in 1047 Ralph Tesson of Cinquelais led 120 knights of his dependence to aid Duke William at the battle of Val des Dunes (De Gerville, Anc. Chateaux). The Tesson barony 1165 consisted of 60 knights’ fees (Feod. Norm., Duchesne). From this House descended the Marmions, of whom William Marmilon of Fontenay (a Tesson estate) witnessed a charter of Ralph Tesson, probably his brother, in 1070 (Gall. Christ. xi. 413). The Byrons seem to have been another branch. The Percys probably derive from Ernegis or Erneis Tesson, brother of Ralph and co-founder of Fontenay 1050 (Gall. Christ. xi. 413). He had William, Serlo, and Ralph de Percy, who came to England 1066, and from whom the English Percys descended. The arms of these families show their common origin. The Tessons bore a fesse, the Marmions the same, the Percys a fesse indented, the Percys of the South fessy or barry, and the Byrons bendy for fessy. The distinction is chiefly made by tinctures.

John, Ralph, Normandy 1180-95; Hugh,Ralph 1198(Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae); Hugh Percehaie 1180 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae). These were collaterals of the great House.

From Percy; a location name in Normandy.

A Norman name: From the Domesday Book, Perci. Percy; a local name

Percy: from Perci, a fief near Villedieu near Caen. William de Perci was a tenant of the Duke of Normandy. He and Serlo de Perci came over in the time of the Conqueror, but neither of them is mentioned as having been present at Hastings.