PEACE
The surname Peace has its roots firmly in the English Isles, deriving from the Middle English word pece, which itself originates from the Latin pax. The literal sense of the term is “peace”, and the name was frequently applied to individuals recognised as calm or tranquil, or to those residing near a place bearing a similar designation.
In the early medieval period, the name was used both as a descriptive nickname for a mild‑mannered man and as a locational identifier for those dwelling by a site called Peace. Some scholars also note a secondary origin linked to the personal name Pash or Pask(e), which was common in medieval England for individuals born at Easter or associated in some way with the season. The dual possibilities are reflected in the diverse spellings that appear in contemporary records.
The earliest documented instance of the surname is that of John Pais, recorded in 1219 in the Register of the Freemen of Leicester during the reign of Henry V, often referred to as “the Frenchman”. Subsequent entries include a Roger Pays in the 1275 Hundred Rolls of Norfolk and a William Pace in the 1242 Book of Fees of Devonshire. In London, parish registers show the marriage of an Alice Pace to Thomas Picket in 1539 at St. Michael Bassishaw, and another union with John Garrot on 16 August 1573 at St. Lawrence Pountney.
Over the centuries, the spelling of Peace has varied considerably. Modern orthographic variants include Pase, Paice, Payce, Payze, Peache, Peach, Peche, Peeche, Peachey, Peachy, Peachee, Peeches, and Peches. These differences often resulted from regional dialects, variations in handwriting, or administrative error, yet the core meaning of the name—denoting a person of serene disposition—remains unchanged.
Geographically, the surname has traditionally concentrated in Northern England, particularly in Yorkshire, the North West, and Cumbria. In Scotland, its survival is linked with the Gaelic tradition, where the name appears among Christian families in the Scottish Highlands. The distribution later expanded into Ireland, where the name is represented in counties such as Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Donegal, Kildare, and Kilkenny, often reflecting patterns of migration from the British Isles.
From the early 17th century onward, emigrants bearing the Peace surname settled in North America, with the earliest arrivals in New England during the late 17th century. The name subsequently spread throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, becoming increasingly common in regions with significant Irish or English heritage. In contemporary statistics, Peace ranks as the 34th most common surname worldwide, the 2,213th in the United States, 241st in Ireland, and 98th in England.
Beyond its phonetic grace, the surname carries an enduring symbolic resonance. Its use as a nickname suggests a valued social quality—peacefulness—while its adoption for foundlings or community‑raised children reflects a benevolent wish for harmony in their future lives. Whether as a marker of personal temperament or geographic origin, the Peace surname continues to evoke the ideals of calm and concord that were esteemed in medieval society.
Typical given names associated with the Peace surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Matthew
- Michael
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Janet
- Joanne
- Lorna
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Rebecca
- Sandra
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Pease
- Pace
- Paice
- Paese
- Pase
- Passe
- Pass
- Paci
- Payce
- Paze
- Paces
- Paise
- Pasc
- Payze
- Payse
- Paas
- Paes
- Paez
- Pais
- Paiz
- Pas
- Pasa
- Pasaoa
- Pasea
- Paseau
- Pasi
- Pasia
- Paso
- Passa
- Passau
- Passee
- Passi
- Passo
- Pauce
- Paus
- Pause
- Pauza
- Paws
- Pays
- Paz
- Paza
- Pazi
- Pazio
- Pazo
- Pazzi
- Peacey
- Peack
- Peacke
- Peage
- Peake
- Peas
- Peasce
- Peasey
- Peasse
- Pece
- Peci
- Peece
- Pees
- Peice
- Peouis
- Pes
- Pesa
- Pesce
- Pesci
- Pescoe
- Pessa
- Pessi
- Pesso
- Pessoa
- Peus
- Peussa
- Pews
- Pez
- Peza
- Pezo
- Pezza
- Pezze
- Pezzi
- Pias
- Piasa
- Piaz
- Piazza
- Piazzi
- Pice
- Pici
- Pieace
- Piece
- Pies
- Piese
- Piess
- Piesse
- Pieza
- Pious
- Pisa
- Piso
- Pisu
- Pisz
- Pius
- Piz
- Piza
- Pizii
- Pizza
- Pizzi
- Pizzie
- Pizzo
- Poci
- Pohse
- Pois
- Poos
- Poosa
- Pooss
- Pos
- Posa
- Pose
- Poso
- Poss
- Possa
- Posse
- Possee
- Posso
- Posz
- Pous
- Pouso
- Poussa
- Pousse
- Pows
- Powys
- Poyce
- Poyse
- Poz
- Poza
- Pozi
- Pozo
- Pozza
- Pozze
- Pozzi
- Pozzie
- Pozzo
- Puce
- Puci
- Pucio
- Pues
- Puice
- Pusa
- Puse
- Pusie
- Puss
- Pusz
- Puz
- Puza
- Puzio
- Puzo
- Puzzi
- Puzzo
- Pyce
- Pyse
- Pysz
- Pyza
- Ypes
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Peace in...
Braille
⠏⠑⠁⠉⠑
Morse
.--...--.-..
Semaphore
There are approximately 4,708 people named Peace in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,007th most common surname in Britain. Around 72 in a million people in Britain are named Peace.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Peace
- Heather Peace - Singer/songwriter and actress
- Metta World Peace - American basketball player
- John Peace - Businessperson
- Jeremy Peace - Football chairman
- Superman IV: The Quest for Peace - Actor
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.