Pridow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Pridow is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Pridow family lived in Cornwall, at Prideaux, from whence they derived their name.

Early Origins of the Pridow family

The surname Pridow was first found in Cornwall, home to Prideaux Castle, an Iron Age hillfort near St Blazey and Prideaux Place, a country house near Padstow that has been in the Prideaux-Brune family for over 400 years. They family trace their descent from Paganus, lord of Prideaux Castle, in Luxulion in the time of William I. 1

"The manor of Treslothan, [Camborne] upon which estate there are some remains of an ancient chapel, was in moieties between the families of Prideaux and Arundell, in the early part of the seventeenth century." 2

"The ancient family of Prideaux can trace their pedigree up to the period of the Norman Conquest, at which time Paganus was lord of Prideaux. Of the elder branch of this family, the last male heir died about the year 1490. When this event took place, the heiress carried Prideaux Castle in Luxulian, to the Herles of West Herle in Northumberland. At this time a younger branch of the Prideaux family settled at Orchardon in Devonshire; and of this branch a younger son settled at Thuborough, from whom sprang a still younger branch that took up their abode at Padstow, so early as the days of Henry VIII. From this ancestor has descended the Rev. Charles Prideaux, who has taken the additional name of Brune, pursuant to the will of his great uncle Charles Brune, Esq. the last male heir of an ancient baronial family of Plumber in Dorsetshire." 2

Continuing our quest in nearby Devon: "In the reign of Elizabeth the manor [of Sidmouth] was leased to Sir William Perryan, and in that of James I. to Sir Christopher Mainwaring; it was subsequently sold to Sir Edmond Prideaux, with the exception of the great tithes, which were given to Wadham College, and now belong to the Rev. William Jenkins, the incumbent. The manor was purchased from Sir Wilmot Prideaux by Thomas Jenkins, Esq." 3

Early History of the Pridow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pridow research. Another 197 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1555, 1578, 1590, 1596, 1602, 1606, 1622, 1626, 1629, 1640, 1641, 1647, 1648, 1650, 1659, 1667, 1675, 1682, 1695, 1705, 1720, 1724, 1729 and 1766 are included under the topic Early Pridow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pridow Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Prideaux, Prideux and others.

Early Notables of the Pridow family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Prideaux D.D. (1578-1650), an English academic and Bishop of Worcester; Sir Peter Prideaux, 2nd Baronet (1596-1682); Sir Peter Prideaux, 3rd Baronet (1626-1705); Sir Edmund Prideaux, 4th Baronet (1647-1720); Sir Edmund Prideaux, 5th Baronet (1675-1729); Sir John Prideaux, 6th Baronet (1695-1766); Richard Prideaux (1606-1667), an English politician who...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pridow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pridow family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Pridow or a variant listed above: Nicholas Prideaux who settled in Barbados in 1678; with his servants, wife and child.

Citations +

Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.