Piers is an English and Medieval French variant of the name Peter, deriving from the Old French form introduced to England by the Normans. The name's ultimate root lies in the Greek Petros, meaning "stone," a translation of the Aramaic Cephas given to the apostle Simon by Jesus, as recorded in the New Testament (Matthew 16:18 and John 1:42). Etymology The name Peter comes from the Greek word petros (πέτρος), meaning "rock" or "stone." In the Bible, Jesus renamed Simon to Peter, signifying him as the bedrock of the Christian church. From the early days of Christianity, the name became widespread throughout Europe in various forms. The Normans brought the Old French spelling Piers to England, where it gradually gave way to Peter during the 15th century, but Piers persisted as both a given name and a surname. Historical and Literary Significance The name Piers is most famously associated with the 14th-century allegorical poem Piers Plowman by William Langland, which features the protagonist Piers, a virtuous plowman embodying Christian ideals. This work remains a cornerstone of Middle English literature. Notable Bearers Notable individuals with the given name Piers include Piers Anthony (author of the Xanth series), Piers Morgan (British media personality), and Piers Gaveston (favorite of King Edward II of England). As a surname, it appears in various contexts: Sir Henry Piers, 1st Baronet (Anglo-Irish antiquarian), William Piers (39 pages, D. D. .) (English Anglican bishop and priest). The name also established several baronetcies through the Piers baronets. [Wikipedia's full extract list other bearers.] Related Forms Variants of Piers include Peers and Peter (English). Other language cognates reach from Pjetër (Albanian) to Petros (Greek). Among its English derived surnames are Pearce, Pierce, and Pearson. Meaning: Stone, Rock Origin: Greek (via Old French) Type: Given Name & Surname Usage Regions: English-speaking world, France (historical), and broadly due to Christian adoption