Preost History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The many generations and branches of the Preost family can all place the origins of their surname with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name reveals that an early member worked as a priest having derived from the Old English word preost, which means priest. It was also a nickname given to a person with a priestly character, and probably also given to a person with the exact opposite character. A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character.

Early Origins of the Preost family

The surname Preost was first found in Hertfordshire, where they held a family seat before the Middle Ages.

Early History of the Preost family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Preost research. Another 391 words (28 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1379, 1557, 1558, 1579, 1615, 1621, 1645 and 1735 are included under the topic Early Preost History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Preost Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Preost were recorded, including Preost, Priest, Prest, Preist, Prestt, Press and many more.

Early Notables of the Preost family

Notables of the family at this time include Agnes Prest (died 1557), an English Protestant martyr burned at the stake at Southernhay in Exeter; Degory Priest (ca. 1579-1621), A London...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Preost Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Preost family to Ireland

Some of the Preost family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 46 words (3 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 Preost family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Preost family emigrate to North America: John Priest, his wife Sara, and their daughters Mary and Sarah, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1620 aboard the "Mayflower"; Degory Priest who also arrived in Massachusetts in 1620 aboard the ".