Pierce Family Crest, Coat of Arms & Pierce Name Origin

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Origin of the Name Pierce

The origin of the name Pierce was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives. Pierce is a baptismal name meaning 'the son of Peter', a name of great antiquity. Variants include Pearce, Pearse, Pears, Peers, Peirce, Pearson, Pierson and Peirson. This name is of Anglo-Saxon descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland , Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout these countries. Examples of such are a Margota Peres, who was recorded in the 'Poll Tax' of the West Riding of Yorkshire, England , in the year 1379 and a John Pereson who was Bailie of Linlithgow, Scotland , in the year 1472. A Robertus Perisson was recorded in the 'Poll Tax' of the West Riding of Yorkshire in the year 1379. In Ireland a family of the name settled in 1566 and were granted estates by Elizabeth I, including the Abbey of Tristernagh in County Westmeath. The MacPearses of County Kerry , who played an important part on the Irish side in the Desmond wars, were a branch of the Fitzmaurices. The Gaelic form of the name is MacPiarais.