NameCensus.

UK surname

Piercy

From the medieval French given name Piers, derived from the Greek Petros, meaning "stone" or "rock".

In the 1881 census there were 1,081 people recorded with the Piercy surname, ranking it #3,672 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,658, ranked #3,759, down from #3,672 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Hawarden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hambleton, Ryedale and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Piercy is 1,751 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.4%.

1881 census count

1,081

Ranked #3,672

Modern count

1,658

2016, ranked #3,759

Peak year

2010

1,751 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Piercy had 1,081 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,672 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,658 in 2016, ranked #3,759.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,647 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Piercy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Piercy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Piercy 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 840 #3,231
1861 historical 691 #3,904
1881 historical 1,081 #3,672
1891 historical 1,289 #3,357
1901 historical 1,472 #3,471
1911 historical 1,647 #2,957
1997 modern 1,630 #3,635
1998 modern 1,704 #3,629
1999 modern 1,718 #3,626
2000 modern 1,733 #3,585
2001 modern 1,668 #3,635
2002 modern 1,694 #3,663
2003 modern 1,637 #3,688
2004 modern 1,637 #3,697
2005 modern 1,614 #3,710
2006 modern 1,610 #3,714
2007 modern 1,638 #3,699
2008 modern 1,634 #3,730
2009 modern 1,686 #3,709
2010 modern 1,751 #3,647
2011 modern 1,717 #3,664
2012 modern 1,634 #3,767
2013 modern 1,665 #3,770
2014 modern 1,688 #3,739
2015 modern 1,666 #3,759
2016 modern 1,658 #3,759

Geography

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Where Piercys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Hawarden, Brighton and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hambleton, Ryedale, County Durham, Gwynedd and Wirral. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Hawarden Cheshire
4 Brighton Sussex
5 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hambleton 010 Hambleton
2 Ryedale 008 Ryedale
3 County Durham 040 County Durham
4 Gwynedd 010 Gwynedd
5 Wirral 016 Wirral

Forenames

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First names often paired with Piercy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Piercy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Piercy, 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 Piercy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Piercy 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, Piercy 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

Piercy is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Piercy falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Piercy 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 Piercy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Piercy

The surname Piercy is of English origin, derived from the Old French personal name "Pierre" or "Piers," meaning "rock" or "stone." This name gained popularity during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Piercy can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire. The surname appeared in various forms, such as Piers, Pieres, Peirse, and Pearce, reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations of the time.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Piercy can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, where it is recorded as "Petrus de Percia." This suggests that the name may have originated as a local surname, derived from a place name.

In the 13th century, the surname Piercy is mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire from 1246, where it appears as "William Perecy." This document provides evidence of the surname's presence in northern England during this period.

Notable individuals with the surname Piercy include Sir Henry Piercy (1292-1363), an English soldier and landowner who served in the Scottish Wars of Independence. Another prominent figure was George Piercy (1586-1616), an English Puritan minister and writer who authored several religious works.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Piercy was associated with landed gentry and nobility in various parts of England. One example is Henry Piercy, Earl of Northumberland (1564-1632), a prominent English nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the reign of King James I.

In the 18th century, John Piercy (1710-1773) was a notable English engraver and artist who produced various etchings and engravings of landscapes and architectural subjects. Another individual with this surname was William Piercy (1768-1854), an English painter known for his portraits and historical paintings.

Throughout history, the surname Piercy has been associated with various occupations, including clergy, soldiers, artists, and landowners, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Piercy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Piercy 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. Yorkshire leads with 256 Piercys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.46x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 256 2.46x
Middlesex 169 1.61x
Northumberland 102 6.53x
Lancashire 92 0.74x
Flintshire 86 30.45x
Cheshire 44 1.90x
Surrey 44 0.86x
Worcestershire 30 2.19x
Norfolk 29 1.80x
Warwickshire 27 1.02x
Kent 23 0.64x
Nottinghamshire 19 1.34x
Sussex 18 1.02x
Berkshire 16 2.03x
Hampshire 15 0.70x
Buckinghamshire 14 2.20x
Oxfordshire 13 2.00x
Leicestershire 11 0.94x
Denbighshire 10 2.52x
Essex 9 0.43x
Staffordshire 9 0.25x
Durham 7 0.22x
Roxburghshire 5 2.63x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.94x
Derbyshire 4 0.24x
Glamorgan 4 0.22x
Bedfordshire 3 0.55x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.30x
Devon 2 0.09x
Gloucestershire 2 0.10x
Midlothian 2 0.14x
Berwickshire 1 0.79x
Dorset 1 0.15x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.43x
Hertfordshire 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 0.80x
Somerset 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 25 Piercys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.46x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 25 2.46x
Scarborough 23 24.31x
Birmingham 20 2.27x
Northop Soughton 20 938.97x
Mold 19 74.16x
Hammersmith London 18 6.96x
Kings Norton 18 14.63x
Ford 16 280.21x
Horncliffe 16 1280.00x
Slingsby 16 744.19x
Carham 14 345.68x
Hawarden 14 63.12x
Liverpool 14 1.85x
Clerkenwell London 13 5.24x
Newington 13 3.35x
Southcoates 13 22.50x
Camberwell 12 1.79x
Market Weighton Arras 12 177.51x
Paddington London 12 3.11x
York St Mary 12 27.83x
Clarborough 11 103.87x
Hackford In Aylsham 11 379.31x
Barughs Ambo 10 1063.83x
Brighton 10 2.80x
Cottingham 10 44.56x
New Malton 10 80.32x
Reepham With Kerdiston 10 526.32x
Rhuddlan 10 40.23x
Bossall Claxton 9 882.35x
Broughton In Salford 9 7.90x
Chester Holy Trinity 9 82.80x
Gorton 9 7.68x
Newton 9 9.37x
Norton In Malton 9 71.32x
Spitalfields London 9 11.39x
Wooler 9 163.64x
Blakeney 8 276.82x
Harton 8 1632.65x
Leyton 8 22.40x
Shoreditch London 8 1.76x
Toxteth Park 8 1.90x
Bow London 7 5.23x
Clitheroe 7 19.08x
Craster 7 886.08x
Hackney London 7 1.19x
Handsworth 7 8.01x
Lowthorpe 7 985.92x
Maidstone 7 6.56x
Poplar London 7 3.53x
Reighton 7 760.87x
Rillington 7 221.52x
St Marylebone London 7 1.25x
Tibthorpe 7 693.07x
Tranmere 7 8.21x
Tweedmouth 7 35.92x
Christchurch 6 12.85x
Fingest 6 500.00x
Higher Kinnerton 6 410.96x
Hinckley 6 21.72x
Holywell 6 16.92x
Hornsey 6 4.52x
Parlington 6 769.23x
Pickering 6 45.77x
Reading St Mary 6 9.50x
Sheffield 6 1.81x
Tarporley 6 123.71x
Wootton Wawen 6 71.86x
Wrexham Regis 6 20.36x
Beverley St Martin 5 28.77x
Blackburn 5 1.51x
Chesham 5 21.36x
Dodderhill 5 85.47x
Hawarden Pentrobin 5 111.11x
Heaton 5 96.34x
Kilham 5 892.86x
Lewisham 5 2.62x
Nettlebed 5 210.08x
South Malling 5 190.11x
Sprouston 5 135.50x
Wantage 5 39.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 60
Elizabeth 51
Sarah 34
Jane 26
Annie 18
Ellen 18
Emily 16
Ann 15
Emma 13
Margaret 13
Hannah 12
Martha 12
Catherine 11
Eliza 11
Louisa 10
Ada 9
Alice 9
Anne 9
Caroline 9
Agnes 8
Florence 8
Isabella 8
Edith 7
Kate 7
Esther 6
Fanny 6
Harriet 6
Charlotte 5
Maria 5
Angelina 4
Eleanor 4
Elizth. 4
Ethel 4
Gertrude 4
Maud 4
Jemima 3
Lizzie 3
Lucy 3
Susan 3
Susannah 3
Adolpha 2
Amy 2
Bessie 2
Carry 2
Clara 2
Frances 2
Isabel 2
Laura 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 73
John 71
George 41
Thomas 39
Henry 25
James 21
Frederick 16
Robert 15
Charles 13
Alfred 12
Benjamin 11
Joseph 11
Arthur 9
Richard 8
Harry 7
Edwin 6
Samuel 6
Walter 6
Wm. 6
Gilbert 5
Albert 4
Andrew 4
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Fred 4
Matthew 4
Archibald 3
Cornelius 3
Peter 3
David 2
Donald 2
Fredk. 2
Herbert 2
Jas. 2
Mark 2
Rodger 2
Annie 1
Beaumont 1
Bernhard 1
Cyril 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Enos 1
Geo.Henry 1
Geog. 1
Geor 1
Godfrey 1
Guy 1

FAQ

Piercy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Piercy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,081 people were recorded with the Piercy surname. That placed it at #3,672 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Piercy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,658 in 2016. That gives Piercy a modern rank of #3,759.

What does the Piercy surname mean?

From the medieval French given name Piers, derived from the Greek Petros, meaning "stone" or "rock".

What does the Piercy map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Piercy 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.