Show ContentsPrynn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

There is a debate as the the origin of this family. One source claims the name is a nickname, as in "Pryne, chief, first." [1] Another source agrees, stating the name was derived from the Old French word "prin", (Latin primus) ‘first, superior; small, slender’. [2]

Another source claims the family originated in Cornwall and "were formerly called Resprynn, and they are supposed to have originated from Resprynn, an estate in the parish of Lanhydrock." [3]

Early Origins of the Prynn family

The surname Prynn was first found in Worcestershire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The family name was first referenced in the year 1275 when Matilda Pryn held estates in that shire. In the same year, William Prin was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls for Berkshire and later, Nicholas Prinne was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327. [2]

Revisiting the aforementioned Cornish origin, another branch of the family was found in Bodrean, Cornwall as "the seat of Henry Prynn Andrew, Esq. was acquired by his alliance with the family of Prynn." [4]

Early History of the Prynn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prynn research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1043, 1327, 1455, 1487, 1600, 1648 and 1669 are included under the topic Early Prynn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prynn Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Prin, Prinn, Pryn, Prynn, Prynne and others.

Early Notables of the Prynn family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • William Prynne (1600-1669), Somerset born, English lawyer and Puritan, who published Puritan tracts, assailed Anglican ceremonialism and attacked popular amusements, especially plays


United States Prynn migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Prynn Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Michell Prynn, who arrived in Virginia in 1635
  • Edmund Prynn, who arrived in Virginia in 1641 [5]
  • Nicholas Prynn, who arrived in Virginia in 1682
Prynn Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. John Prynn, (b. 1868), aged 35, Cornish labourer, from Taywardreath, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Majestic"arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 9th September 1903 en route to the United States [6]
  • Mr. Luke Prynn, (b. 1877), aged 26, Cornish labourer, from Tywardreath, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Majestic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 9th September 1903 en route to Salisbury, Pennsylvania, USA [6]
  • Mr. Luke Prynn, (b. 1904), aged 3 months, Cornish settler, from Tywardreath, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Celtic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 5th June 1904 en route to Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA [6]
  • Mr. Mark Prynn, (b. 1880), aged 24, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Celtic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 5th June 1904 en route to Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA [6]
  • Mr. John Prynn, (b. 1901), aged 3, English settler, from Taywardreath, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Celtic"arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 5th June 1904 en route to Sommerset, Pennsylvania, USA [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  5. 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)
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf


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