Pierre
A French surname from the given name Pierre, the French form of Peter, meaning “rock” or “stone.”
The #1,026 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 9,104 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Pierre is the French form of Peter, ultimately from Greek Petros, meaning “rock” or “stone.” As a surname, it usually began as a name taken from a father or ancestor named Pierre. In English records, related forms and diminutives sometimes appear, including Perrin and, in older usage, Piers or Pearce.
History
The name is common in France and in French-speaking communities, where it developed from the widespread baptismal name Pierre. Historical surname writers also note related diminutive forms such as Perrin. In Britain and elsewhere, the surname was sometimes carried by French immigrant families, especially after periods of religious migration from France.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same root that gave Pierre also lies behind Peter, Piers, Pedro, and Pietro in other languages.
From the historical record
“bien (earlier ben), Lat. bene, well] PARLE I the French P/erre/ = Pierre (F*eter) -I- the dim. suff. -el. 2 a form of Pearl (q.v.) [cp. Dut. paarl, pearl]”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)