PIERCE
Origin and Meaning of the Surname Pierce
The surname Pierce is principally of English origin and derives from the medieval given name Piers, itself a variant of Peter. The name Peter ultimately stems from the Greek word petros, meaning “rock” or “stone”. Consequently, Pierce may be interpreted as “son of Peter” or “descendant of Peter”, and it may also have arisen as a nickname for a person of steadfast or rock‑like character.
Celtic and Welsh Connections
Although the surname is English, its early bearers were recorded in the British Isles, including Wales, where the associated language is Welsh and the prevailing religion Christian. The Celtic cultural background of the region contributed to the diffusion of the name, and the early use of the name in Wales reflects the broader Celtic influence on British onomastics.
Historical Development and Variants
During the Norman Conquest of 1066, the French form Piers was introduced to England and rapidly became popular. By the late twelfth century the name appears in official records, for example the London Pipe Rolls of 1198 record a “Gilbert Perse”. Over the centuries at least sixteen spellings have been documented, including Pierce, Pearce, Piers, Peers, Peres and Perse.
Coat of Arms and Early Emigration
The family received a coat of arms in 1641, described as a silver shield bearing two black bars between six red estoiles (stars) arranged three, two and one, with a crest of an arm in armour holding a lance. The motto, Cadenti porrigo dextram, translates as “I extend my right hand to the falling”. An early American settler, Danyell Pierce, embarked from Ipswich on the ship Elizabeth for New England in 1634, illustrating the surname’s migration beyond the British Isles.
Typical given names associated with the Pierce surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
- William
Female
- Alison
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Gillian
- Helen
- Jane
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Pearce
- Pearse
- Peirson
- Pearson
- Pierson
- Persson
- Peers
- Pierse
- Peirce
- Pears
- Piers
- Parce
- Parse
- Pearsey
- Pairce
- Peairce
- Pearces
- Pairs
- Paraiso
- Paras
- Parasa
- Parazo
- Parci
- Pareas
- Pares
- Paress
- Parez
- Parias
- Parice
- Paries
- Paris
- Parisa
- Parise
- Pariseau
- Parisi
- Parisio
- Pariso
- Pariss
- Parisse
- Parissi
- Parize
- Paros
- Paroz
- Parras
- Parres
- Parries
- Parris
- Parriss
- Parrows
- Parrs
- Parrys
- Pars
- Parsa
- Parsaei
- Parsi
- Parus
- Parys
- Pauce
- Peairs
- Peares
- Pearis
- Pearso
- Peerce
- Peeris
- Peiarce
- Peircey
- Peire
- Peires
- Peiris
- Peirs
- Peirse
- Peorce
- Peras
- Perasso
- Peraza
- Perazzo
- Perce
- Perceau
- Perci
- Percie
- Peres
- Peress
- Perez
- Perice
- Peries
- Peris
- Perisa
- Perisi
- Periss
- Perisse
- Peros
- Perosa
- Perossi
- Peroz
- Perozzi
- Perras
- Perres
- Perress
- Perrez
- Perrice
- Perries
- Perris
- Perriss
- Perros
- Perrozzi
- Perrs
- Perruzza
- Perrys
- Pers
- Persa
- Perse
- Persee
- Persey
- Persi
- Persia
- Perske
- Persse
- Persue
- Perus
- Peruzi
- Peruzzi
- Peruzzo
- Perz
- Perzia
- Peurse
- Piarce
- Piearce
- Piears
- Pier
- Pierazzo
- Pierces
- Piercey
- Piercy
- Piere
- Pieres
- Pieris
- Pierre
- Pierres
- Piersa
- Pierz
- Pirace
- Piras
- Pirc
- Pirce
- Pircey
- Pires
- Pirez
- Piris
- Pirisi
- Piriz
- Piros
- Piroso
- Pirouz
- Pirouzi
- Pirozzi
- Pirse
- Pirus
- Poores
- Poors
- Poras
- Poraz
- Poris
- Poros
- Porosa
- Porras
- Porres
- Porris
- Pors
- Porsi
- Porzio
- Pouris
- Pouros
- Pours
- Poyraz
- Prace
- Prais
- Praise
- Prasai
- Prass
- Prasse
- Praus
- Prause
- Prawse
- Prays
- Praz
- Preace
- Preas
- Prease
- Prece
- Preece
- Preeece
- Prees
- Preese
- Preez
- Preeze
- Preice
- Preis
- Preiss
- Pres
- Presa
- Press
- Presse
- Presseau
- Presz
- Preus
- Preuss
- Preusse
- Prez
- Preza
- Prezeau
- Price
- Priece
- Priehs
- Pries
- Priese
- Priess
- Prise
- Priss
- Prize
- Prizio
- Prizzi
- Proce
- Proios
- Proos
- Prose
- Pross
- Prosse
- Prouce
- Prous
- Prouse
- Prows
- Prowse
- Pruce
- Pruess
- Pruhs
- Pruice
- Pruis
- Prus
- Prusa
- Pruse
- Pruss
- Pryce
- Prys
- Pryse
- Puras
- Purce
- Pures
- Purez
- Purice
- Puries
- Puris
- Purois
- Purres
- Purris
- Purs
- Purse
- Purss
- Puruis
- Purus
- Pyrce
- Pyros
- Pyrs
- Perseu
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Pierce in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 7,213 people named Pierce in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,303rd most common surname in Britain. Around 111 in a million people in Britain are named Pierce.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Wales
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Welsh
Famous people named Pierce
- Franklin Pierce - American politician, 14th President of the United States (1804 to 1869)
- Justin Pierce - -American actor and skateboarder (1975 to 2000)
- Jason Pierce - Singer-songwriter and guitarist
- David Hyde Pierce - American actor
- Karen Pierce - Diplomat
- Norman Pierce - Actor (1900 to 1968)
- Gary Pierce - Football player and manager
- Christopher Pierce - Rower
- Barry Pierce - Football player
- Samuel Eyles Pierce - Preacher, theologian, and Calvinist minister (1746 to 1829)
- Ellis Pierce - Author of historical romances and bookseller (1841 to 1912)
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.