Proffit History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

The ancient Scottish name Proffit is carried by the descendents of the Pictish people. It was a name for a person who played the part of a prophet in a medieval pageant. However, another source claims "this name owes its origin to an ancestor who had enacted such a part in mediaeval pageant. and the suggestion is not unlikely." 1

Early Origins of the Proffit family

The surname Proffit was first found in Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain), a historic county, and present day Council Area of Aberdeen, located in the Grampian region of northeastern Scotland.

One of the first records of the family was William Propheta who was charter witness in Aberdeen in 1281. Later, John Profite was admitted burgess of the same burgh in 1440. A few years later, Thom Propheit appears as "mair of the quarter of Brechin" and sheriff-depute of Forfar in 1473. 1

Early History of the Proffit family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Proffit research. Another 31 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1450, 1467, 1470 and 1552 are included under the topic Early Proffit History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Proffit Spelling Variations

Translation has done much to alter the appearance of many Scottish names. It was a haphazard process that lacked a basic system of rules. Spelling variations were a common result of this process. Proffit has appeared Proffit, Profat, Profet, Profett, Profit, Prophat, Prophet and many more.

Early Notables of the Proffit family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Proffit Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Proffit Ranking

In France, the name Proffit is the 4,820^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 2

Proffit migration to the United States +

Many Scots left their country to travel to the North American colonies in search of the freedom they could not find at home. Of those who survived the difficult voyage, many found the freedom they so desired. There they could choose their own beliefs and allegiances. Some became United Empire Loyalists and others fought in the American War of Independence. The Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up in the last century have allowed many of these disparate Scots to recover their collective national identity. A search of immigration and passenger ship lists revealed many early settlers bearing the Proffit name:

Proffit Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Elizabeth Proffit, who landed in Maryland in 1652 3
Joseph Proffit, who arrived in Maryland in 1652 3
Rachel Proffit, who landed in Maryland in 1652 3

Proffit 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:

Proffit Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Joseph Proffit, aged 29, a farm labourer, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1874
Martha Proffit, aged 21, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Proffit (post 1700) +

George H. Proffit (1807-1847), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana (1839-1843)
Samuel G. Proffit, American politician, Member of Virginia State Senate 26th District, 1920-21 4
S. Greene Proffit, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Virginia, 1944 4
Joseph Edwin Proffit (1876-1958), American Republican politician, U.S. Consul in Pretoria, 1904-05; Member of Virginia State House of Delegates, 1944-47, 1952-57 4
George H. Proffit (1807-1847), American politician, Representative from Indiana 1st District, 1839-43; U.S. Minister to Brazil, 1843-44 4

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html