From a surname which was derived from the given name Piers. Pierce is ultimately derived from Peter. Peter originates in Greek language and means "rock". As a masculine given name it has been popular over centuries and in different spellings all over the world. This was the name of several saints, including the one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, as well as the name of numerous members of European royalty. In the United States its usage has declined a lot lately. It functions as a surname as well.
