Contents [hide]

Prestidge History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Prestidge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Prestidge is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in Prestwick, Northumberland, or in Prestwich, in Cheshire. Prestwich is now part of Greater Manchester. The place names Prestwick and Prestwich have an identical etymology; they are derived from the Old English words preost, which meant priest, and wic, which meant farm. The place names taken as a whole mean "priest's farm."

Early Origins of the Prestidge family

The surname Prestidge was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Prestidge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prestidge research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1250 is included under the topic Early Prestidge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prestidge Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Prestidge has been spelled many different ways, including Prestwick, Preswick, Preswicke, Prestwich and others.

Early Notables of the Prestidge family

More information is included under the topic Early Prestidge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Prestidge family to Ireland

Some of the Prestidge family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prestidge migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Prestidges to arrive in North America:

Prestidge Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Frank Prestidge, who landed in Colorado in 1900 1
Cyril C. Prestidge, who landed in America from Portsmouth, in 1919
William Prestidge, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States, in 1919
George Prestidge, aged 28, who landed in America, in 1920
Edward Prestidge, aged 35, who settled in America, in 1924

Prestidge migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Prestidge Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Prestidge, aged 24, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Trafalgar" 2
William Prestidge, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Trafalgar" in 1849 2

Prestidge migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Prestidge Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Mary Jane Prestidge, (b. 1863), aged Infant, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 3
Mrs. Jane Prestidge, (b. 1828), aged 35, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 3
Mr. Jesse Prestidge, (b. 1830), aged 33, British carpenter travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 3
Miss Sarah Prestidge, (b. 1835), aged 28, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 3
Mr. Thomas Prestidge, (b. 1853), aged 10, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Prestidge Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In te domine speravi
Motto Translation: In thee, O Lord, I have placed my hope.

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The TRAFALGAR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Trafalgar.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html