Surname Pear - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Pear: What does the surname Pear mean?
The last name Pear is believed to have mainly two origins. It could either be English, related to the fruit-bearing tree of the same name, or it could be French, a truncated form of the surname "Pierre," which means "Peter" in English.
In the English context, it was likely a name given to those who either lived near a pear orchard or perhaps traded in pears. In this sense, it owes its origin to the medieval occupational and topographic naming tradition where individuals were named after their jobs or their place of residence.
In the French context, it likely began as a given name and evolved into a surname over time. The name Peter has biblical origins, linked to one of the twelve apostles and the name itself means "rock" or "stone," symbolizing a solid or strong character.
It's important to note that the meaning of surnames can vary widely depending on their cultural and geographic origins. Therefore, these explanations should be seen as potential possibilities rather than definitive interpretations.
Order DNA origin analysisPear: Where does the name Pear come from?
The surname Pear is of British origin, though it can also be found in various countries, including the United States. The ancestral home of the surname Pear is believed to be in the counties of Kent and Lancaster, though it is also found in regions of England and Scotland. The name Pear can also be found in countries such as Australia, Canada, and South Africa.
The population of Pear families fluctuates across countries, though the United Kingdom sees a significantly higher number of individuals bearing the Pear surname. According to Census data from England and Wales, approximately 11,788 people claimed the Pear surname in 2011.
In the United States, the Pear surname is significantly less common, with around 5,000 current bearers of the name. The majority of individuals with the Pear surname in the United States can be found in areas of California, Texas, and Ohio.
Overall, the surname Pear remains quite uncommon when compared to other surnames. While the population of individuals with this surname varies from country-to-country, the United Kingdom sees the highest population of Pear individuals. In contrast, the United States has the lowest population of Pear families, with an estimate of 5,000 individuals total.
Variations of the surname Pear
The surname Pear may have several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of Pear are Pears, Pearson, Piers, Pierce, and Pearce.
The surname Pear is generally believed to have originated from the Old English personal name Piers, a shortened form of Peter or Peterkin, or from a nickname based on the appearance of a pear-shaped person. The Old English pet or peta meant 'pear'.
The variant spelling is Pierse or Pierson which is an Anglicised version derived from the first name Peter. Pierse and Piers were popular variants in 19th century England, as documented in the 1861 census.
The Bleades family of Wales and the Leaf (or Leafe) family of Devonshire in England are thought to be distant relatives of the Pear family. The surname of Leigh or Lee is a variant from which the Leafe family may have descended.
The Scottish variant, Piers or Pierce, is a shortened form of Peter. It was first found in the lands of Perthshire where the family had been seated since early times.
The surnames Pierce and Pearce are thought to be from the Old French 'piers', meaning 'rock'. The earliestrecorded Pierce is Hugh Pierce in 1208, from Yorkshire. The spelling Pierce was first found in Somerset in 1248 and Pearce was first found in Wiltshire in 1275.
In conclusion, the surname Pear may have several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, such as Pears, Pearson, Piers, Pierce, and Pearce. It is believed to have originated from the Old English personal name Piers, an Anglicised version of Peter, and the Old French 'piers', meaning 'rock'.
Some other surnames associated with Pear are Bleades, Leaf or Leafe, Leigh or Lee.
Famous people with the name Pear
- Craig Pear: Craig Pear is an American stock director, filmmaker, writer and producer. He is best known as the executive producer of Fringe, the director of Homicide: Life on the Street and the screenwriter for the television movie What the Deaf Man Heard.
- Chuck Pears: Chuck Pears is an American actor and television director, best known for his roles in the television series Roseanne, Married… with Children, Dinosaurs and Coach.
- Sharon Pear: Sharon Pear is a former British figure skater. She is the winner of the 1978 World Figure Skating Championships and a member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
- Ken Pear: Ken Pear is a former professional American football player who played in the National Football League from 1980-1986. He is most famous for his time spent playing for the San Francisco 49ers.
- Olwen Pear: Olwen Pear is a former British ice dancer and coach. She won the silver medal in the junior category at the 2014 Ice Dance Championships and is the British National Junior Figure Skating Champion.
- Brian Pear: Brian Pear is an American actor best known for appearing in various television shows such as The Wonder Years, Saved by the Bell, and Murder, She Wrote.
- Michael Pear: Michael Pear is an American actor and stand-up comedian. He is best known for playing the character Gary on the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me, which ran from 1997-2003.
- Joel Pear: Joel Pear is an American playwright, author, and director. He is best known for writing the book and lyrics for the musical The Great White Hope.
- Cathy Pear: Cathy Pear is an American actress, best known for her numerous roles on the stage, including originating the legendary role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret.
- Laura Pear: Laura Pear is an American country music artist who released her debut album in 2001. Her most noteworthy single is her duet with Joe Diffie, titled "You Made Me That Way".