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

Pierce, 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 Pierce surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pierce in America

Pierce is the 202nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pierce surname appeared 138,629 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 47 people would have the surname Pierce.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pierce 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 Pierce

The surname Pierce has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "percer," which means "to pierce" or "to bore through." This is likely a reference to an occupation or trade involving piercing, such as a maker of tools or weapons.

The name first appeared in various records and documents from the 12th and 13th centuries, often spelled as "Peerce," "Peerce," or "Peirse." One of the earliest known references is in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mentions a William Perce.

In the Domesday Book, a landmark survey conducted in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, there are several entries that possibly relate to the name, including "Perci" and "Perci de Hamtona" (Percys of Southampton).

A notable bearer of the name was Sir Henry Pierce (c. 1388-1428), who served as a distinguished military commander during the Hundred Years' War. He was knighted for his bravery in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

Another prominent figure was Richard Peirse (c. 1560-1633), an English explorer and sea captain who is credited with being one of the earliest English settlers in Newfoundland, Canada.

In the 16th century, the name was also found in various places across England, including the village of Peercebridge in Dorset, which may have derived its name from the surname.

Other notable individuals with the surname Pierce include:

1. Benjamin Pierce (1757-1839), an American Revolutionary War soldier and politician from Massachusetts.
2. Franklin Pierce (1804-1869), the 14th President of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857.
3. Thomas Mabbott Pierce (1805-1876), an American jurist and diplomat who served as the U.S. Minister to Hawaii.
4. Edward Loring Pierce (1825-1897), an American mathematician and logician, known for his work in geometry and logic.
5. Robert Peirce (1924-2000), a British actor best known for his roles in television series such as "The Avengers" and "Doctor Who."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pierce

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

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

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

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