UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old French word "perce" meaning "pierce" or "hole".
In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Pirce surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #31,301 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Waltham St Lawrence, Llanbeblig and Ysceifiog. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pirce is 143 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 68.8%.
1881 census count
16
Ranked #31,301
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1851
143 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pirce surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pirce surname density by area, 1851 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 | 143 | #13,343 |
| 1861 | historical | 21 | #31,242 |
| 1881 | historical | 16 | #31,301 |
| 1891 | historical | 64 | #28,781 |
| 1901 | historical | 39 | #29,799 |
| 1911 | historical | 26 | #30,547 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 2 | #38,754 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 2 | #38,793 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Waltham St Lawrence, Llanbeblig, Ysceifiog, Dolwyddelan and Hoathly, West. 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 | Waltham St Lawrence | Berkshire |
| 2 | Llanbeblig | Carnarvonshire |
| 3 | Ysceifiog | Flintshire |
| 4 | Dolwyddelan | Denbighshire |
| 5 | Hoathly, West | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pirce 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 Pirce, 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 Pirce surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pirce 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, Pirce 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 Pirce is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pirce, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Pirce is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old French word "perce," meaning "to pierce" or "to bore," which could have been an occupational name for someone who worked with piercing tools, such as a maker of holes or an armourer.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Perce." This suggests that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname began to appear in various spellings, including "Perce," "Pearse," and "Pearce." These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.
Notable historical figures with the surname Pirce include Robert Pirce, a member of the Parliament of England in the late 16th century, and Edward Pirce, a prominent merchant and landowner in Bristol during the early 17th century.
In the 18th century, the name was associated with several notable individuals, such as Samuel Pirce, a British philosopher and writer born in 1730, and William Pirce, an English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Mansion House, born in 1722 and died in 1789.
Another significant figure was Henry Pirce, a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was involved in several important battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. He was born in 1778 and died in 1842.
The surname also has connections to various place names in England, such as Piercefield in Monmouthshire and Piercebridgein Durham, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in certain regions.
While the surname Pirce is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals who made significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pirce 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. Sussex leads with 4 Pirces recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.21x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 4 | 15.21x |
| Caernarfonshire | 3 | 47.54x |
| Herefordshire | 2 | 31.25x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 10.60x |
| Cardiganshire | 1 | 26.25x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 16.98x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 23.87x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.88x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.54x |
| Merionethshire | 1 | 35.09x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mountfield in Sussex leads with 4 Pirces recorded in 1881 and an index of 13333.33x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pirce 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 Pirce 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 Pirce households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scoler | 2 |
| Ag Lab Wife | 1 |
| Bavenmaker | 1 |
| Farm Servent (Indoor) | 1 |
| Gardner | 1 |
| Hay Tyer | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Sea Captain | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Pirce surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Pirce a modern rank of #38,264.
An English surname derived from the Old French word "perce" meaning "pierce" or "hole".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pirce 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.