Proctor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Proctor is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name was taken on by someone who worked as a steward. Proctor is an occupational surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Occupational surnames were derived from the primary activity of the bearer. In the Middle Ages, people did not generally live off of the fruits of their labor in a particular job. Rather, they performed a specialized task, as well as farming, for subsistence. Other occupational names were derived from an object associated with a particular activity. This type of surname is called a metonymic surname. This surname comes from the Old English word proketour, which is a contracted form of the Old French procurator.

Early Origins of the Proctor family

The surname Proctor was first found in Cambridgeshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Proctor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Proctor research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1521, 1536, 1537, 1540, 1578, 1584, 1632, 1692 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Proctor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Proctor Spelling Variations

Before 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 Proctor include Procter, Proctor and others.

Early Notables of the Proctor family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Sir Edward Proctor who married into the distinguished family of Beauchamp
Thomas Proctor (fl. 1578), was an English poet, the son of John Proctor, first master of Tunbridge grammar school
John Proctor (1521-1584), was an English divine and historian, a native of Somerset, was elected scholar of Corpus Christi, Oxford, in January 1536-1537, and fellow of All Souls' in 1540
John Proctor (1632-1692), was a farmer in 17th century Massachusetts who was accused with his wife Elizabeth Bassett accused of witchcraft, convicted and brought to prison during the Salem Witch Trial...

Proctor Ranking

In the United States, the name Proctor is the 1,036^th most popular surname with an estimated 29,844 people with that name. 1 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Proctor is ranked the 612^nd most popular surname with an estimated 10,723 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Proctor family to Ireland

Some of the Proctor family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Proctor 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:

Proctor Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Grayer Proctor, who was aboard the ship "Sea Venture" who wrecked in Bermudas in 1609, they managed to build a new ship to continue to Jamestown in 1610. 3
Mrs. Allis Proctor, who landed in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship "George" 3
Mr. Anthony Proctor, who settled in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Assurance" 4
Mr. John Proctor, (Procter), aged 40, who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Susan and Ellin" 5
Mrs. Martha Proctor, (Procter), aged 28 who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Susan and Ellin" 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Proctor Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Joseph Proctor, who landed in Virginia in 1716 3
Agnes Proctor, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1736 3
William Proctor, who arrived in Virginia in 1745 3
Henry Proctor, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1760 3
Anthony Proctor, who arrived in Mississippi in 1798 3

Proctor Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christopher Proctor, who arrived in New York in 1835 3
Matthew Proctor, who arrived in New York in 1844 3
Isaac Proctor, who landed in New York in 1846 3

Proctor migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Proctor Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Thomas Proctor, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Charles Proctor, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
Mr. Joshua Proctor U.E. who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 6
Mr. Nathaniel Proctor U.E. who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 6
Mr. Joseph Proctor U.E. who settled in Yonge [Front of Yonge], Ontario c. 1786 6

Proctor migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Proctor Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Margaret Proctor, (b. 1789), aged 23, English servant who was convicted in Salford, Lancashire, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Emu" in October 1812, the ship was captured and the passengers put ashore, the convicts were then transported aboard the "Broxburnebury" in January 1812 arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. Richard Proctor, British Convict who was convicted in North Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dunvegan Castle" on 13th March 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. Robert Proctor, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Thomas Proctor, English convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for life, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st September 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Nelson Proctor, (b. 1807), aged 27, English compositor who was convicted in Southampton, England for life, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 27 September 1834, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1873 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Proctor migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Proctor Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Mary Proctor, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lord Worsley" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th October 1858 12
Miss Fanny Proctor, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lord Worsley" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th October 1858 12
Miss Eliza Proctor, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lord Worsley" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th October 1858 12
Mr. George Proctor, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lord Worsley" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th October 1858 12
Mr. William Proctor, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lord Worsley" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th October 1858 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Proctor migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 13

Proctor Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. William Proctor, (b. 1609), aged 26, British settler traveling aboard the ship "William and John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 14

Contemporary Notables of the name Proctor (post 1700) +

James Edward Proctor Jr. (1936-2015), American politician, Member of the Maryland House of Delegates (1990-2015)
Haydn Proctor (1903-1996), American politician and judge, President of the New Jersey Senate in 1946
Thomas Proctor (1739-1806), Irish-born, American Commander of the 4th Continental Artillery Regiment during the American Revolutionary War
Redfield Proctor Jr (1879-1957), American politician, 59th Governor of Vermont (1923-1925)
Scott Christopher Proctor (b. 1977), retired American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 2004 to 2011
Philip Proctor (b. 1940), American actor, voice actor and a member of The Firesign Theatre, known for his voice roles in Pixar films, including Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc. and Finding Nemo
Rachel Christine Proctor (b. 1974), American country singer-songwriter
Mel Proctor (b. 1951), American sports broadcaster
Mary Proctor (1862-1957), American astronomer, eponym of the Proctor lunar crater
Paul Proctor, American country musician and columnist
... (Another 62 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Proctor family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Robert Gordon Proctor, English Able Seaman from Bradford, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 15
Mr. George Proctor, British Assistant Steward, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 15
Mr. G Proctor, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 15

RMS Titanic

Mr. Charles Proctor (d. 1912), aged 40, English Chef from Liverpool, Lancashire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 16

The Proctor 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: Toujours fidele
Motto Translation: Always faithful.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Emu
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dunvegan-castle
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html