Surname Pears - Meaning and Origin
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Pears: What does the surname Pears mean?
The surname Pears is believed to have originated from the Old English and German word “pyrre”, meaning ' pearl.' Thus, Pears can be interpreted to mean 'descendants of Pearl.'
The name is also thought to have derived from a location; namely, a pear orchard. This may have been an apt name for families that farmed pears as a profession or had orchards to cultivate them in the past.
As such, the name itself could reflect back to olden times and give families a sense of identity and belonging. Records going back to the 1400s indicate that the name was used among the English, Dutch and German communities. In fact, it is possible that some of the original settlers of the New World brought the name Pears with them.
Due to its long-standing history, the name Pears carries many connotations. Generally, it is associated with features of resilience, elegance, and beauty— values that likely originated from the symbolism of a pearl itself. Values like these are likely to be held with importance by families who proudly carry the name Pears.
Order DNA origin analysisPears: Where does the name Pears come from?
The last name Pears is most common in England today, particularly in the East Midlands and South West regions. The name is thought to have derived from the Old English "pyrige" which means pear tree, suggesting that it was an occupational name for those who worked around pear orchards.
The nameborne by the successful family Pears of Bristol, a prominent banking family in the 19th century, is also likely to have been influential in its popularity.
Data from the 1881 England and Wales Census tells us that Pears was a popular surname among areas in the South West such as Devon, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, and Somerset, as well as other parts of the country including London, Yorkshire, Durham, Lancashire, and Cheshire.
Today, the name Pears can still be found in many English counties with a particularly dense concentration in East Midlands counties such as Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire. In fact, Leicester is one of the cities in the United Kingdom with the highest number of people with the surname Pears, followed closely by Bristol.
The name Pears is also quite common in the United States. While it remains relatively rare in Australia and New Zealand, the Pears family can be found in Canada, mainly in the province of Ontario, although these numbers are relatively small.
Variations of the surname Pears
The surname Pears has numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of the common variants include Peers, Peirs, Piers, Piears, Pierres, Pearse, Piersons and Pearces. In some cases, the spelling of the name may change depending on the origin of the name or the time period in which it was used. For example, Peers was likely used in earlier time periods whereas Pears is more commonly used in the present day.
The surname Pears has multiple origins. It can be derived from the Old French word pierre, which means “stone”. Therefore, it may be an occupational name for someone who works with rocks or stone, such as a stone mason. Alternatively, it may be derived from the Old English word pyre, which means pear tree, and thus may have been an occupational name for someone who works with pear trees.
The Pears surname also has several alternative spellings and surnames that are derived from other countries and languages. In Germany, the surname is spelled Piears or Peirs, in Ireland, the surname is spelled Pierse, in Scotland, the surname is spelled Pierres, in England, the surname is spelled Peersons or Pearces, and in France, the surname is spelled Pistons.
In conclusion, the surname Pears has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including Peers, Peirs, Piers, Piears, Pierres, Pearse, Piersons, Pearces, and more. It has multiple origins, including occupational names derived from Old French and Old English words. It also has multiple alternative spellings and surnames derived from various countries and languages.
Famous people with the name Pears
- Austin Pears: American actor best known for his role in the show Las Vegas.
- Dolly Parton: American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and actress.
- Chris Pears: English football player.
- Alan Pears: Australian telecommunications engineer and author.
- Andrew Pears: former professional hockey player.
- James Pears: English cricketer.
- Bart Pears: former professional basketball player.
- Lizzie Pears: British artist.
- Richard Pears: British actor.
- Matthew Pears: English footballer.
- William Pears: American politician.
- Lawrence Pears: Canadian actor.
- Sir Robert Pears: British diplomat.
- Edna Pears: American film actress.
- John Pears: British actor.
- Bernard Pears: English physician.
- Derek Pears: British entrepreneur and philanthropist.
- Thomas Pears: American artist and sculptor.
- Florence Pears: British poet.
- Lynda Pears: Canadian interpreter and educator.