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Origins of the Pearce surname

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What does the name Pearce mean?

The Pearce surname originates in England, where research has shown it to have Anglo-Norman roots, spreading throughout Britain in the following centuries. It's a patronymic name, given to those who are the son or descendant of Pierre or Piers (early and diminutive forms of Peter), being discovered in records as early as the 1300s.

Alternative variations of the name Pearce

Pearce, Pierce, Pearse, Pears, Peers

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Where do most Pearces live?

In 1921, most Pearces lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Pearces

How common is your surname?

118th most common surname in the UK

We have 294,000 records for the Pearce surname. The oldest one dates back to 1538.

Who were Pearces most likely to marry?

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Pearces.

What are the most common Pearce first names?

  • William
  • John
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Pearce family members

Common jobs for Pearces

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Pearces in 1921
Dressmaker

1,467

Laundress

1,018

General Servant Domestic

744

Domestic Servant

718

General Servant

528

Common Male occupations for Pearces in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

1,411

General Labourer

1,208

Carpenter

1,067

Farm Labourer

870

Farmer

757

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Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 330,000 family trees with the Pearce surname

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