Surname Pierson - Meaning and Origin
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Discovering My Roots with iGENEA: A Deep Dive into the Pierson Surname, Origins, and Distant Relatives
I participated in an iGENEA DNA test and discovered surprising insights about my surname, Pierson. The test revealed fascinating links to English and Scandinavian origins, connection with distant relatives, and even a glimpse into genetic predispositions, all treated with utmost confidentiality.
N. Pierson
read morePierson: What does the surname Pierson mean?
The last name Pierson is of English, Irish, and Scottish origin. It is a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the given name of an ancestor. The name was originally bestowed upon a male child, meaning "son of Piers" or "son of Peter." The element "son" indicates "son of," while "Pier" is a derivation of Peter, which stems from the Greek name "Petros" meaning "rock." It became popular among Christians due to Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles in the New Testament known as the "rock" on which the early Christian church was founded. Hence, one could say that Pierson translates to "son of the rock." Over centuries, this surname like many others, has also witnessed different spellings, prominent among these are Pearson, Piers, and Peerson. It is widespread in English-speaking countries, especially the United Kingdom and the United States. Famous people with the surname Pierson include American actor Jim Pierson and musician Kate Pierson of The B-52's.
Order DNA origin analysisPierson: Where does the name Pierson come from?
The last name Pierson is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. It is the 1,337th most common surname in the United States, and the 1,031st most popular name in Canada.
In the United States, Pierson is most common in the Southeast, especially among those of British Isles descent. Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida have the highest concentration of Pierson households. Many American Pierson families are descended from early English and Scottish settlers in the area.
In Canada, the Pierson surname is most common in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The Pierson name can be traced to some of the earliest settlers of what is now known as the North American east coast.
Beyond North America, families with the Pierson surname can also be found in Denmark, the Netherlands, France, and Australia. It has particularly strong historical ties to Scandinavia. There, the Pierson surname dates back to the Middle Ages and is most commonly found in Denmark.
The Pierson family name has a long and storied history worldwide. Its prominence in North America is a testament to the endurance of the surname throughout the years.
Variations of the surname Pierson
The surname Pierson is an English or Dutch surname derived from the personal name Peter, which also gave rise to the surname Peterson. Variations in spelling of this surname include Pearson, Pearsen, Pearsson, Peerson, Pearsan, Pearseon, Piyerson, Pereson, Peirson, and Pierson.
It is sometimes found as an Americanized spelling of the German surname Pietschmann or Peitsman. According to one source, this name is derived from the German word pietsch or peitsche meaning "whip," and thus was probably a nickname given to a person of a mild disposition. The Dutch spelling of the surname Pierson is 'Peerson.'
The Dutch surnames Peereboom and Peerenboom are also derived from the same root, and are interesting variations of the same surname. These Dutch surnames are derived from a combination of two words, both Dutch words, peere referring to an old-fashioned pear-shaped bottle, and boom, which means tree.
The spelling variations Peterson and Pritchard are also derived from the same root. This surname is the patronymic form of the personal name Peter, which is derived from the Latin name Petrus derived from the Greek Petros, both meaning "rock" or "stone."
The surname Peer could also be an abbreviation of the surname Pierson, although it is not a common variant today. It is however, found as a surname in England and Scotland, and is of Anglo-Saxon origin.
Finally, the surname Pierceon, a variant of Pierson, is also found in England. It is a locational surname deriving from any of the several English places named Parsen or Pearson.
Famous people with the name Pierson
- Alice Pierson: an American theatre producer and director.
- Bill Pierson: an American politician and member of the Minnesota Senate.
- Brad Paisley: an American country singer-songwriter who also goes by the stage name Brad Pierson.
- Christine Pierson: a British journalist and broadcaster.
- Harry L. Pierson: an American physicist and founder of the Harvard-MIT Program of Health Sciences and Technology.
- Phil Pierson: an American flutist noted for his accomplishments in the field of classical music.
- Roy Pierson: a World War II flying ace and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
- Trudie Pierson: a British writer and broadcaster.
- Venna Pierson: an American Crufts Dog Show judge and former All-American Handler.
- Yvette Pierson: a robotics researcher at the University of Tokyo