| ![Show Contents]() Prest History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Prest is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name was taken on by someone who 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 Prest familyThe surname Prest was first found in Hertfordshire, where they held a family seat before the Middle Ages. Early History of the Prest familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prest 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 Prest History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Prest Spelling VariationsBefore English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Prest include Preost, Priest, Prest, Preist, Prestt, Press and many more. Early Notables of the Prest familyNotables of the family at this time include - Agnes Prest (died 1557), an English Protestant martyr burned at the stake at Southernhay in Exeter
 Migration of the Prest family to Ireland
Some of the Prest 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.
| Prest migration to the United States | + |
A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:
Prest Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- John Prest, who landed in Virginia in 1663 1
- Tho Prest, who landed in Virginia in 1665 1
- William Prest, who arrived in Maryland in 1668 1
- Elizabeth Prest, who arrived in Maryland in 1668 1
Prest Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- John Prest, who arrived in Tippecanoe County, Ind in 1841 1
| Prest migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Prest Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- John Prest, aged 27, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Steadfast" 2
- Jonathan Prest, aged 26, a carpenter, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Victoria Regia"
| Contemporary Notables of the name Prest (post 1700) | + |
- Steve Prest (1966-2009), English professional snooker player and coach
- Charles Henry Prest (1841-1875), English amateur first-class cricketer
- Thomas Walsh "Tommy" Prest (1908-1987), English professional footballer
- Sid Prest, Canadian politician for the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
- Martín Prest (b. 1978), Argentine football striker
| Historic Events for the Prest family | + |
- Mr. Harry Prest, Canadian resident from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 3
- 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)
- South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STEADFAST 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/steadfast1852.shtml
- Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
|
Prest migration to the United States 
Prest migration to Australia 
England
Ireland
