Show ContentsPrize History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Welsh name Prize is a patronymic surname created from the Welsh personal name Rhys, which also took the forms Rice and Rees. The surname Prize was originally ap-Rhys, ap-Rice, or ap-Rees: the distinctive Welsh patronymic prefix "ap," means "son of," but the prefix has been assimilated into the surname over the course of time.

Early Origins of the Prize family

The surname Prize was first found in Merionethshire (Welsh: Sir Feirionnydd), made a county in Northwest Wales in 1284, and anciently part of the kingdom of Gwynedd, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Prize family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prize research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1505, 1573, 1596, 1599, 1605, 1619, 1628, 1630, 1640, 1646, 1648, 1651, 1657, 1660, 1661, 1666, 1671, 1675, 1678, 1691, 1744, 1752 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Prize History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prize Spelling Variations

The Welsh have an extremely large amount of spelling variations of their native surnames to their credit. It was up to the priest or the scribe taking the official records to determine how the spoken name was to be made literal. As time progressed, the old Brythonic names of Wales were recorded in English, which was especially problematic since the English language had extreme difficulty recording the highly inflected sounds of Cymraeg. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Prize have included Price, Pryce and others.

Early Notables of the Prize family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Marchwithian, Chieftain of the Prices in North Wales; Sir John Price, Ap Price, Ap Rhys (died 1573), Welsh visitor of the monasteries, was son of Rhys ab Gwilym; Sir John Pryce (Price), 1st Baronet (ca. 1596-ca. 1657), an Anglo-Welsh Baronet and Member of Parliament, initially a Royalist in 1628 he was created a Baronet; Sir Richard Pryse, 1st Baronet (died 1651), a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1646 to 1648; Sir Richard Pryse, 2nd Baronet (c.1630-c.1675), a Welsh landowner and politician who...
Another 97 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Prize Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Prize family to Ireland

Some of the Prize family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Prize family

During the latter half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Wales journeyed to North America to find a new life. They made major contributions to the arts, industry and commerce of both Canada and the United States, and added a rich cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Prize: Henry Price, who arrived in Virginia in 1622; Hugh Price, who arrived in Virginia in 1623; Edward Price, who came to Virginia in 1623; Maurice Price, who came to Virginia in 1643.



The Prize 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: Vita brevis gloria aeterna
Motto Translation: Life is short, glory eternal


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