Surname Pearcey - Meaning and Origin

Pearcey: What does the surname Pearcey mean?

The surname Pearcey is of English origin and is derived from the given name "Pierce," which in turn is a variation of "Peter." In Greek, Peter means "rock" or "stone." During the Middle Ages, it became common to use patronymics, adding elements to a father’s name to create a surname for the child. In the case of Pearcey, the 'y' suffix means 'son of.' So, Pearcey would roughly translate to "son of Pierce" or "son of Peter." The use of such names became more frequent over time, particularly in England where this surname is most prevalent, eventually evolving into the fixed surnames that are used today. Although Pearcey is not as common, its linguistic cousins, including Pearce and Pierson, are widespread. Pearcey is not associated with a specific geographical region within the UK, so bearers of the name could be from anywhere in the country. Like many surnames, different families with the name Pearcey might not be directly related and may have acquired the name independently.

Pearcey: Where does the name Pearcey come from?

The last name Pearcey is most common today in Australia and the United Kingdom. In Australia, nearly one and a half percent of landowners have the name Pearcey, with Victoria having the most Pearceys at close to two and a half percent, followed by New South Wales at one and a quarter percent.

In the UK, the most Pearceys live in the West Midlands, which is the fifth-largest administrative division in England. There, one and a quarter percent of landowners have the last name Pearcey. London and its surrounding area are also home to a sizable population of Pearceys, with nearly one percent in that region.

Most Pearceys who live in the UK can trace their roots back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when their name first appeared in the records. This suggests that many current Pearceys are descended from the same family.

The other places in the world where Pearcey is the most common include South Africa, Canada and Ireland. While the name is not found very often in the United States, it is possible that some Pearceys have emigrated from the UK or other countries and adopted the last name.

Overall, the last name Pearcey is quite common in Australia and the UK, while less prevalent in other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Pearcey

The surname Pearcey is of Old French origin, derived from the male given name Piers, meaning ‘rock’ or ‘stone’. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Pearcey include: Pierce, Piercy, Percy, Percye, Persson, Piercey, Pircee, Pierson, Pirson, Pearcy, Pearlcy, Pearsey, Pearse, Pearss, Pirce, Piers, Piersun, Piercie, Pearson, Piersson, Pearcin, Pearcin.

Pierce and Pierson are two of the most popular variants, and both are derived from the same root. The surname Pierce comes from the Old French personal name Piers, which is derived from the Latin name Petro, meaning ‘rock’ or ‘stone’. The surname Pierson is derived from it in a roundabout way.

The spelling Pearlcy is also derived from the same origin, however, the spelling Piercy is the most common form. The last name Piercy originates from the Old French word Pierse, which probably derived from the personal name Piers, meaning a rock.

Other variation of the same origin for Pearcey also include Percy, Percye, Persson, Piercey, Pircee. Perece and Percye are two other related surnames, originating from the Old French personal name Piers. The surname Percy is derived from the Old French personal name Perce, itself derived from the Latin name Petro, meaning ‘rock’ or ‘stone’. Pisrson is another variant and may be derived from the Latin word for petrel, meaning 'great wings'.

Overall, the surnames Pearcey, Pierce, Piercy, Percy, Percye, Persson, Piercey, Pircee, Pierson, Pirson, Pearcy, Pearlcy, Pearsey, Pearse, Pearss, Pirce, Piers, Piersun, Piercie, Pearson, Piersson, Pearcin, Pearcin, Perece have the same origin derived from the Old French personal name Piers, meaning ‘rock’ and ‘stone’.

Famous people with the name Pearcey

• Guy Pearce: An English-born Australian actor, musician, and singer. He is best known for starring in films like The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, L.A. Confidential, The Proposition, The King's Speech, and Memento.
• Clive Pearcey: A former English cricketer who played first-class cricket for various teams.
• Annabella Pearcey: An American actress, best known for her roles in films and television programs such as The Guardian (2003), Days of Our Lives (1993-96), and NYPD Blue (2000).
• David Pearcey: A British actor who has appeared in films such as Pride and Prejudice (2005), V for Vendetta (2005), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), and The Book Thief (2015).
• Paul Pearcey: A sitcom actor, best known for his role in the classic British sitcom, The Young Ones (1982-84).
• John Pearcey: A British director and screenwriter whose films include Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016), The Time Machine (2002), and The Wizard of Oz (1939).
• Michael Pearcey: A British actor who is best known for his roles in films such as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), Sherlock Holmes (2009), and Captain America: Civil War (2016).
• Olivia Pearcey: A British actress who has appeared in films such as Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), Cinderella (2015), and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016).
• Curtis Pearcey: An accomplished American athlete, best known for winning gold medals in the 100m and 200m races in the 2004 Olympics.
• Johnathan Pearcey: A British musician and producer, who has worked with numerous artists such as Bjork, John Legend, and Pharrell Williams.

Other surnames

Pearce