The name Parrish is of English origin, derived from the Old French word 'parcheoir', which means 'parchment maker'. It was traditionally an occupational surname given to those who worked with parchment, a material made from prepared untanned skins used for writing documents in medieval times. Parrish has been largely associated with England and its former colonies due to British colonization, but it can also be found in other parts of the world today. In some cases, Parrish may have evolved from the given name 'Parris', which was a shortened form of 'Peter'. The name has seen varying levels of popularity over time, with peaks in usage during the mid-20th century.
The name Parrish experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a total of 478 babies named Parrish born between 1961 and 2022. The peak years for this name were 1992 with 26 births and 2020 with 9 births, indicating a renewed interest in the name more recently. However, it's clear that the name's popularity has been inconsistent throughout history, with some years seeing as few as 5 babies named Parrish.