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

Pier, 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 Pier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pier in America

Pier is the 13588th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pier surname appeared 2,231 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 Pier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pier 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 Pier

The surname PIER is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "pier" meaning a stone or masonry pillar, especially one used to support a bridge or building. The name likely originated with individuals who lived near or worked on such structures.

In the 13th century, the name was recorded as "Atte Pere" in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire, referring to someone residing near a pier or bridge support. Later spellings included "Piere" and "Pyere" in various medieval records.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert Pier, a merchant from Bristol, England, who was mentioned in the city's guild records in 1378. Another early record is of John Pier, a resident of Wiltshire, listed in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1333.

The surname PIER is also found in some place names, such as Piercebridge in County Durham, which derives its name from the Latin "Pons Bassus," meaning low bridge. This suggests that some individuals with the surname may have originated from or lived near this location.

Notable historical figures with the surname PIER include:

1. Gabriel Pier (c. 1530-1600), an English composer and organist during the Renaissance period.
2. William Pier (1742-1789), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War.
3. Emma Pier (1816-1892), an English author and poet known for her works on domestic life and religious themes.
4. Sir Arthur Pier (1874-1953), a British civil engineer and architect, best known for designing the iconic Pier Head buildings in Liverpool.
5. Nathaniel Pier (1898-1976), an American journalist and author who covered World War II and wrote several books on military history.

The name PIER has been present in English records for centuries, reflecting its origins as an occupational surname associated with bridge and building construction. While not as common as some other surnames, it has a rich history and has been borne by notable individuals across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pier

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

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 Pier 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 Pier 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 Pier was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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