Proudfit History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe Proudfit surname comes from the Middle English word "prod," meaning "proud," and "fote," meaning "foot." As such, it is thought to have originally been a nickname for someone with strutting or swaggering gait. 1 2 Early Origins of the Proudfit familyThe surname Proudfit was first found in London where "Gilbert Proudfoot was sheriff of London c1140 and 'It is interesting to find that the first known bearer of the surname was a sheriff, thus a person who might be justified in walking with a proud step'" 3 Other early records of the family include: Gilbert Proudfoot, Prudfot, Prutfoot who was listed in 1114-1130; and Goffrey Prudfot who was found in Norfolk in the 12th century. The Pipe Rolls of Hampshire include John Prutfot in 1203. 3 One author notes that in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name is "a common entry in the Rolls, evidently a familiar and colloquial term for a haughty man." 4 Indeed, we found these entries for the family there: Thomas Proudfot, Huntingdonshire; John Protfot, Oxfordshire; and Robert Prudefot, Yorkshire. Further to the north in Scotland, the first on record there was John Prudfote in 1269. "Patrick Proudfote was one of an inquest concerning the lands of John de Hirdmanstone, 1303. John Prootfoote in Craigie, Perthshire, 1689. The spellings Proudfut, Prowufut, and Prudfut were common in the parish of Camwath (Carnwath). A treacherous rock in the Bay of Wick, Caithness, is called Proudfoot. " 5 Early History of the Proudfit familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Proudfit research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1269, 1303 and 1689 are included under the topic Early Proudfit History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Proudfit Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Proudfoot, Proudfont, Proudfoote and others. Early Notables of the Proudfit familyMore information is included under the topic Early Proudfit Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Proudfit family to IrelandSome of the Proudfit family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Proudfit familySome of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Mathew Proudfoot, who came to New England in 1750; John Proudfoot, who settled in Virginia in 1774; and Richard Proudfoot, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1808..
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