Prettett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Wales

The name Prettett is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was a name for someone who was a young buck having been from the Old English word priket, a young buck, or a buck in his second year. 1 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. Often nicknames described strong traits or attributes that people wished to emulate in a specific animal.

Early Origins of the Prettett family

The surname Prettett was first found in Sussex where the Subsidy Rolls for 1296 includes an entry for William Priket. In 1325, Laurence Priket was listed in the Assize Rolls for Staffordshire in 1325. 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included an entry for Richard Priket as holding lands in Derbyshire at that time. 2

'The crest of the family is allusive, being "a pricket—tripping, proper." 3

Early History of the Prettett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prettett research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1603, 1611, 1672 and 1793 are included under the topic Early Prettett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prettett Spelling Variations

Prettett has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Prettett have been found, including Prickett, Pricket, Prichet and others.

Early Notables of the Prettett family

Notables of the family at this time include Robert Pricket (fl. 1603), British poet who saw some military service in Elizabeth's reign, and afterwards sought a precarious livelihood as...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Prettett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Prettett family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Prettetts to arrive on North American shores: Miles Prickett, who arrived in Virginia in 1610, ten years before the "Mayflower"; Thomas Prickett settled in Virginia in 1623; Ann Prickett, who arrived in Maryland in 1658.

The Prettett 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: Auxillium ab alto
Motto Translation: Aid from above.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.