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Irish surname

Pierce: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Piaras · 'son of Piers' (an Anglo-Norman form of Petrus, Latin for Peter)

Woulfe (1923) gives Pierce, Pierse and Pearse as forms of Piaras, 'son of Piers', an Anglo-Norman form of Petrus, 'very common among the early Anglo-Norman settlers in Ireland'. He says there are 'no doubt, several distinct families so called in different parts of the country', so no single family origin applies to every bearer. In 1890 Matheson counted 38 entries including spelling varieties (22 spelled Pierce).

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Coat of arms associated with the Pierce surname
Irish formPiaras
Meaning'son of Piers' (an Anglo-Norman form of Petrus, Latin for Peter)
CountiesDublin, Wexford, Kerry
Other spellings5
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Pierce crest gifts

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Origin of the Pierce name

Woulfe: 'son of Piers' (an Anglo-Norman form of Petrus, Latin for Peter). 'There are, no doubt, several distinct families so called in different parts of the country. The Pierses of Kerry are stated to be a branch of the Fitzmaurices of Lixnaw.'[1]

  1. 189038 entries including spelling varieties (22 spelled Pierce); Leinster 21, Munster 9, Ulster 6, Connaught 2.[3]

Where in Ireland

Co. DublinMatheson: Pierce principally found in Dublin and Wexford in 1890.[3]
Co. WexfordMatheson: Pierce principally found in Dublin and Wexford in 1890.[3]
Co. KerryWoulfe: the Pierses of Kerry are stated to be a branch of the Fitzmaurices of Lixnaw.[1]

Other spellings

Pierse · Pearse · M'Pierce · Pearce · Peirce[1][4]

The Pierce coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Pierce surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Pierce surname: questions

What does the surname Pierce mean?

Woulfe gives Pierce as 'son of Piers', an Anglo-Norman form of Petrus, Latin for Peter, which he says was very common among the early Anglo-Norman settlers in Ireland.[1]

Is there one Pierce family in Ireland?

Woulfe says there are 'no doubt, several distinct families so called in different parts of the country', so no single family origin applies to every bearer.[1]

Is Pierce the same name as Pearse?

Woulfe prints Pierce, Pierse and Pearse together under Piaras. Matheson's variety list headed Pearse also includes Pierce and Pierse.[1][4]

Where in Ireland was Pierce found in 1890?

Matheson counted 38 entries including spelling varieties (22 spelled Pierce): Leinster 21, Munster 9, Ulster 6, Connaught 2, principally Dublin and Wexford.[3]

Sources

  1. Piaras — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/p/piaras.php
  2. Mac Piarais — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macp/mac-piarais.php
  3. Pierce — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/pierce.php
  4. Pearse — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/1702.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).