UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near or by a bridge or pier.
In the 1881 census there were 111 people recorded with the Piers surname, ranking it #18,597 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 79, ranked #33,100, down from #18,597 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Winwick, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Piers is 123 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.8%.
1881 census count
111
Ranked #18,597
Modern count
79
2016, ranked #33,100
Peak year
1891
123 bearers
Map years
2
1881 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Piers surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Piers surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 74 | #20,443 |
| 1861 | historical | 46 | #28,170 |
| 1881 | historical | 111 | #18,597 |
| 1891 | historical | 123 | #20,939 |
| 1901 | historical | 82 | #25,019 |
| 1911 | historical | 64 | #26,435 |
| 1997 | modern | 60 | #31,629 |
| 1998 | modern | 60 | #31,931 |
| 1999 | modern | 66 | #31,509 |
| 2000 | modern | 57 | #32,417 |
| 2001 | modern | 58 | #32,180 |
| 2002 | modern | 63 | #32,113 |
| 2003 | modern | 59 | #32,530 |
| 2004 | modern | 64 | #32,286 |
| 2005 | modern | 60 | #32,917 |
| 2006 | modern | 70 | #32,240 |
| 2007 | modern | 67 | #32,871 |
| 2008 | modern | 66 | #33,217 |
| 2009 | modern | 68 | #33,341 |
| 2010 | modern | 65 | #33,863 |
| 2011 | modern | 67 | #33,704 |
| 2012 | modern | 72 | #33,502 |
| 2013 | modern | 75 | #33,409 |
| 2014 | modern | 76 | #33,423 |
| 2015 | modern | 76 | #33,351 |
| 2016 | modern | 79 | #33,100 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Winwick, London parishes, Toxteth Park and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winwick | Lancashire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Piers surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Piers, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Piers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Piers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Piers is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Piers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Piers, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Piers originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French personal name Pierre, which itself came from the Latin name Petrus, meaning "rock" or "stone." This was likely a nickname or descriptive name given to someone with a stony or unyielding personality.
The first recorded instances of the surname Piers can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their estates commissioned by William the Conqueror. Entries such as "Petrus" and "Piers" are listed, indicating the early use of the name in various parts of England.
One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Sir Henry Piers, a prominent English knight who lived in the 13th century. He fought in the crusades and was granted lands in Ireland as a reward for his service. The Piers family subsequently established themselves as influential landowners in counties like Westmeath and Tipperary.
Another notable figure with the surname Piers was Sir John Piers, who served as Lord Deputy of Ireland in the late 15th century. He was renowned for his efforts in maintaining law and order during a turbulent period in Irish history.
In the 16th century, the Piers surname gained further recognition with Sir William Piers, a member of the English Parliament who played a role in the English Reformation under King Henry VIII. His son, also named William Piers, was a successful merchant and philanthropist in London.
The surname Piers has also been associated with various place names throughout England and Ireland. For instance, the village of Piers Hill in Shropshire and the townland of Piercetown in County Meath are believed to have derived their names from individuals bearing the Piers surname.
Other notable figures with the Piers surname include Sir Robert Piers (1634-1714), an English lawyer and politician, and Sir Henry Piers (1628-1691), an English writer and traveler who authored several works on the Middle East and North Africa.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Piers surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 29 Piers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.26x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 29 | 2.26x |
| Middlesex | 20 | 1.85x |
| Surrey | 16 | 3.03x |
| Cheshire | 14 | 5.86x |
| Gloucestershire | 7 | 3.30x |
| Hertfordshire | 6 | 8.04x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 1.35x |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 3.57x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 1.63x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.54x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.10x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 2.28x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.07x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.47x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.29x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.58x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.69x |
| Montgomeryshire | 1 | 4.03x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.57x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Giles In Fields in Middlesex leads with 10 Piers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 268.10x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Giles In Fields | 10 | 268.10x |
| Cheltenham | 7 | 42.74x |
| Islington London | 7 | 6.67x |
| Newington | 7 | 17.50x |
| Bury | 6 | 40.87x |
| Camberwell | 6 | 8.68x |
| Codicote | 6 | 1333.33x |
| Golborne | 5 | 299.40x |
| Hulme | 5 | 18.64x |
| Liscard | 4 | 92.81x |
| Newton | 4 | 40.40x |
| Bermondsey | 3 | 9.31x |
| Knutsford Nether | 3 | 208.33x |
| Appleton | 2 | 370.37x |
| Ardwick | 2 | 17.26x |
| Bedford St Cuthbert | 2 | 400.00x |
| Brighton | 2 | 5.43x |
| Crowley | 2 | 2857.14x |
| Everton | 2 | 4.88x |
| Lewisham | 2 | 10.15x |
| Macclesfield | 2 | 18.83x |
| Portsea | 2 | 4.60x |
| Salford | 2 | 5.29x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 2 | 32.21x |
| St Stephen | 2 | 465.12x |
| Alverstoke | 1 | 12.45x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 5.25x |
| Christ Church Newgate | 1 | 200.00x |
| Edinburgh St Georges | 1 | 33.22x |
| Govan | 1 | 1.15x |
| Great Bolton | 1 | 5.88x |
| Guilsfield | 1 | 111.11x |
| Harrowby Grantham | 1 | 833.33x |
| Leyton | 1 | 27.17x |
| St Cuthbert W O | 1 | 22.03x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 2.30x |
| Walcot | 1 | 10.78x |
| Worsley | 1 | 12.63x |
| Ynyscynhaiarn | 1 | 49.02x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Piers surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Piers surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Piers households.
FAQ
In 1881, 111 people were recorded with the Piers surname. That placed it at #18,597 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 79 in 2016. That gives Piers a modern rank of #33,100.
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near or by a bridge or pier.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Piers bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.