NameCensus.

UK surname

Pierce

An English occupational surname referring to someone who worked as a stonecutter or mason.

In the 1881 census there were 4,402 people recorded with the Pierce surname, ranking it #1,017 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,287, ranked #1,276, down from #1,017 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Denbigh, Henllan, London parishes and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Conwy and Denbighshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pierce is 5,410 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.1%.

1881 census count

4,402

Ranked #1,017

Modern count

5,287

2016, ranked #1,276

Peak year

1999

5,410 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pierce had 4,402 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,017 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,287 in 2016, ranked #1,276.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,928 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pierce surname distribution map

The map shows where the Pierce surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Pierce surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pierce over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 3,239 #890
1861 historical 3,029 #953
1881 historical 4,402 #1,017
1891 historical 4,113 #1,167
1901 historical 4,928 #1,146
1911 historical 4,699 #1,100
1997 modern 5,212 #1,254
1998 modern 5,336 #1,276
1999 modern 5,410 #1,268
2000 modern 5,377 #1,267
2001 modern 5,185 #1,280
2002 modern 5,340 #1,271
2003 modern 5,179 #1,277
2004 modern 5,192 #1,272
2005 modern 5,084 #1,284
2006 modern 5,036 #1,300
2007 modern 5,070 #1,300
2008 modern 5,142 #1,294
2009 modern 5,243 #1,302
2010 modern 5,390 #1,296
2011 modern 5,316 #1,291
2012 modern 5,265 #1,274
2013 modern 5,368 #1,269
2014 modern 5,395 #1,272
2015 modern 5,319 #1,275
2016 modern 5,287 #1,276

Geography

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Where Pierces are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Denbigh, Henllan, London parishes, Brighton and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Conwy and Denbighshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Denbigh, Henllan Denbighshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Conwy 015 Conwy
2 Denbighshire 011 Denbighshire
3 Denbighshire 012 Denbighshire
4 Conwy 014 Conwy
5 Denbighshire 010 Denbighshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pierce

These lists show first names that appear often with the Pierce surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pierce

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pierce, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Pierce surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pierce household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pierce is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pierce is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pierce falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pierce is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Pierce, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pierce

The surname Pierce has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "percer," which means "to pierce" or "to bore through." This is likely a reference to an occupation or trade involving piercing, such as a maker of tools or weapons.

The name first appeared in various records and documents from the 12th and 13th centuries, often spelled as "Peerce," "Peerce," or "Peirse." One of the earliest known references is in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mentions a William Perce.

In the Domesday Book, a landmark survey conducted in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, there are several entries that possibly relate to the name, including "Perci" and "Perci de Hamtona" (Percys of Southampton).

A notable bearer of the name was Sir Henry Pierce (c. 1388-1428), who served as a distinguished military commander during the Hundred Years' War. He was knighted for his bravery in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

Another prominent figure was Richard Peirse (c. 1560-1633), an English explorer and sea captain who is credited with being one of the earliest English settlers in Newfoundland, Canada.

In the 16th century, the name was also found in various places across England, including the village of Peercebridge in Dorset, which may have derived its name from the surname.

Other notable individuals with the surname Pierce include:

1. Benjamin Pierce (1757-1839), an American Revolutionary War soldier and politician from Massachusetts. 2. Franklin Pierce (1804-1869), the 14th President of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. 3. Thomas Mabbott Pierce (1805-1876), an American jurist and diplomat who served as the U.S. Minister to Hawaii. 4. Edward Loring Pierce (1825-1897), an American mathematician and logician, known for his work in geometry and logic. 5. Robert Peirce (1924-2000), a British actor best known for his roles in television series such as "The Avengers" and "Doctor Who."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pierce families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pierce surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 529 Pierces recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.04x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 529 1.04x
Middlesex 446 1.04x
Sussex 380 5.25x
Kent 293 2.00x
Denbighshire 284 17.51x
Caernarfonshire 279 16.07x
Flintshire 249 21.58x
Surrey 244 1.17x
Cheshire 155 1.64x
Shropshire 136 3.67x
Merionethshire 103 13.11x
Montgomeryshire 89 9.05x
Wiltshire 87 2.29x
Hampshire 85 0.97x
Anglesey 83 10.91x
Glamorgan 83 1.11x
Essex 76 0.90x
Cardiganshire 74 7.07x
Buckinghamshire 63 2.43x
Yorkshire 61 0.14x
Staffordshire 55 0.38x
Monmouthshire 53 1.71x
Devon 50 0.56x
Gloucestershire 43 0.51x
Somerset 40 0.58x
Norfolk 34 0.52x
Worcestershire 33 0.59x
Brecknockshire 32 3.73x
Suffolk 30 0.57x
Durham 29 0.23x
Warwickshire 23 0.21x
Herefordshire 18 1.02x
Berkshire 15 0.47x
Cumberland 14 0.38x
Leicestershire 12 0.25x
Derbyshire 11 0.16x
Northamptonshire 10 0.25x
Hertfordshire 9 0.30x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.16x
Bedfordshire 8 0.36x
Carmarthenshire 8 0.44x
Lincolnshire 8 0.12x
Cornwall 7 0.14x
Northumberland 7 0.11x
Angus 6 0.15x
Lanarkshire 6 0.04x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.18x
Dorset 5 0.18x
Buteshire 3 1.15x
Oxfordshire 3 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.22x
Radnorshire 3 0.87x
Royal Navy 3 0.59x
Ayrshire 2 0.06x
Channel Islands 2 0.16x
Midlothian 2 0.03x
Isle of Man 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 69 Pierces recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.23x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 69 2.23x
Brighton 60 4.11x
Holywell 55 37.96x
Wycombe 54 27.91x
Islington London 48 1.15x
Birkenhead 42 5.56x
Chelsea London 42 3.25x
West Derby 42 2.82x
Hackney London 41 1.70x
Denbigh 40 61.45x
Festiniog 38 22.93x
Toxteth Park 36 2.09x
Camberwell 35 1.28x
Mold 35 33.44x
Whitford 34 56.85x
Llanbeblig 33 18.73x
Henllan 32 77.29x
Hurstpierpoint 32 79.44x
Kensington London 32 1.34x
Eastbourne 31 9.31x
Lambeth 29 0.77x
Penmachno 29 94.74x
Tranmere 29 8.33x
Manchester 28 1.22x
Croydon 27 2.33x
Rhuddlan 27 26.58x
St Martin 27 65.11x
Everton 26 1.60x
Kirkdale 26 3.03x
Llannefydd 26 200.31x
Battersea 25 1.58x
Kidderminster Borough 25 7.62x
Margate St John Baptist 25 9.32x
Abererch 24 94.45x
Llanllechid 24 19.66x
St Marylebone London 24 1.05x
Wigan 24 3.37x
Ystradyfodwg 24 3.66x
Beddgelert 23 117.23x
Lindfield 23 75.16x
St Pancras London 22 0.64x
Ruabon 20 8.97x
St Asaph 20 121.51x
St Asaph 20 87.34x
Wellington 19 9.11x
Wimbledon 19 8.09x
Broughton 18 28.24x
Oswestry Town 18 15.16x
Willingdon 18 97.99x
Avebury 17 159.33x
Machynlleth 17 47.86x
Pool 17 22.91x
St George Hanover 17 3.03x
Canterbury St Dunstan 16 63.29x
Chorlton On Medlock 16 1.98x
Hulme 16 1.50x
Llantrisant 16 8.49x
Macclesfield 16 3.80x
Newington 16 1.01x
Paddington London 16 1.01x
Shrewton 16 160.80x
Buckland In Dover 15 30.90x
Clerkenwell London 15 1.48x
Cranbrook 15 24.18x
Dolbemaen 15 216.76x
Dolwyddelan 15 80.00x
Hillingdon 15 10.96x
Llanfair Is Gaer 15 62.63x
Bangor 14 8.36x
Cuckfield 14 19.15x
Deptford St Paul 14 1.24x
Dolgelley 14 23.96x
Habergham Eaves 14 3.01x
Llanfair Talhaiarn 14 80.41x
Mile End Old Town 14 2.07x
St George Bloomsbury 14 5.68x
Trefriw 14 161.48x
Preston 13 0.95x
Trefeirig 13 79.75x
Windle 13 4.54x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pierce surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 284
Elizabeth 183
Margaret 118
Sarah 118
Jane 110
Ellen 95
Ann 86
Catherine 56
Annie 55
Eliza 55
Anne 51
Alice 48
Emma 43
Hannah 43
Emily 42
Harriet 33
Ada 28
Fanny 28
Maria 28
Louisa 26
Martha 26
Charlotte 25
Kate 23
Florence 22
Edith 20
Lucy 17
Caroline 16
Esther 16
Frances 16
Harriett 13
Amelia 12
Rose 12
Eleanor 11
Elizth. 11
Cathrine 9
Gertrude 9
Grace 9
Isabella 9
Jessie 9
Sophia 9
Susan 9
Susannah 9
Amy 8
Clara 8
Rebecca 8
Agnes 7
Ellin 7
Laura 7
Minnie 7
Rosa 7

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pierce surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 283
William 260
Thomas 186
George 122
James 119
Edward 89
Robert 86
Henry 80
Charles 70
Richard 61
David 49
Joseph 45
Alfred 37
Walter 28
Frederick 25
Harry 23
Edwin 22
Samuel 21
Evan 20
Arthur 19
Albert 18
Hugh 17
Owen 16
Peter 15
Wm. 14
Ernest 13
Herbert 13
Daniel 12
Frank 12
Griffith 12
Stephen 12
Francis 10
Pierce 10
Thos. 9
Lewis 7
Morris 6
Philip 6
Edmund 5
Edwd. 5
Isaac 5
J. 5
Jeremiah 5
Roger 5
Tom 5
Chas. 4
Geo. 4
Henery 4
Humphrey 4
Moses 4
Reuben 4

FAQ

Pierce surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pierce surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,402 people were recorded with the Pierce surname. That placed it at #1,017 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pierce surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,287 in 2016. That gives Pierce a modern rank of #1,276.

What does the Pierce surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who worked as a stonecutter or mason.

What does the Pierce map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pierce bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.