St Pierre History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name St Pierre arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name St Pierre comes from the name of Christ's apostle, St. Peter. Known as Simon Peter, Simeon, Simon, Cephas, or Peter the Apostle, he was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, and one of the first leaders of the early Church. It is generally thought that he was crucified in Rome under Emperor Nero between 64 and 68 AD. Early Origins of the St Pierre familyThe surname St Pierre was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Malpas. They were a branch of the St. Pierres of Malpas who were related to the Lord of Malpas, and Earls of Chester. Chalfont St. Peter's is a parish, in the union of Amersham, hundred of Burnham, in Buckinghamshire. With nearby Chalfont St. Giles, both parishes were known as Celfunte in the Domesday Book of 1086. 1 Early History of the St Pierre familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our St Pierre research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the year 1320 is included under the topic Early St Pierre History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. St Pierre Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled St. Pier, St. Piere, St. Pierre, St. Peter and others. Early Notables of the St Pierre familyMore information is included under the topic Early St Pierre Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. St Pierre World RankingIn the United States, the name St Pierre is the 3,358th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name St Pierre is ranked the 746th most popular surname with an estimated 7,186 people with that name. 3 And in Quebec, Canada, the name St Pierre is the 32nd popular surname. 4
To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name St Pierre or a variant listed above: St Pierre Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
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