Find out how popular the last name Peirce is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Peirce.

Peirce, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Peirce surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peirce in America

Peirce is the 10358th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peirce surname appeared 3,111 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Peirce.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peirce to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Peirce

The surname PEIRCE originated from the Norman French personal name Pierre, which ultimately derived from the Latin name Petrus, meaning "rock." This name gained popularity due to its association with Saint Peter, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ.

The earliest recorded instances of the PEIRCE surname date back to the late 11th century in England, following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name appeared in various medieval records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror.

During the Middle Ages, the PEIRCE surname was widespread throughout different regions of England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire. The name also appeared in various forms, such as Piers, Pierse, and Peirse, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the PEIRCE surname was William Peirce, a landowner mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1199. Another notable figure was John Peirce, a member of the English Parliament who represented the borough of Milborne Port in Somerset during the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the PEIRCE surname gained further prominence with individuals like William Peirce (c. 1540-1603), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Eggesford in Devon. Another notable bearer of the name was Richard Peirce (c. 1590-1668), a Puritan settler who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony and served as a military leader during the Pequot War.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the PEIRCE surname continued to spread across various parts of the British Isles and eventually to the American colonies. Some notable individuals from this period include Benjamin Peirce (1778-1831), an American mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics, and James Mills Peirce (1834-1906), an American philosopher and logician who was a founder of pragmatism.

In the 19th century, the PEIRCE surname gained further recognition with individuals such as Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914), an American philosopher, logician, mathematician, and scientist who is considered the founder of pragmatism and a pioneer in the field of semiotics. Another notable figure was Franklin Peirce (1852-1924), an American lawyer and politician who served as the 34th Governor of New Hampshire.

Overall, the surname PEIRCE has a rich history that spans centuries, originating from the Norman French personal name Pierre and gaining prominence in various regions of England and later in the American colonies. The name has been associated with notable individuals from various fields, including literature, philosophy, science, and politics, making it a significant part of the cultural and historical tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peirce

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Peirce.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Peirce was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Peirce has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Peirce was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Peirce, please contact us.

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