Prittow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Prittow arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Prittow family lived in Cornwall, at Prideaux, from whence they derived their name.

Early Origins of the Prittow family

The surname Prittow 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 Prittow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prittow 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 Prittow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prittow Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Prideaux, Prideux and others.

Early Notables of the Prittow 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 Prittow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Prittow family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Prittow 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.