Proven History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

The Proven surname is a habitational name, taken on from "the lands of Provan, formerly a possession of the prebendary of Barlanark, one of the canons of Glasgow cathedral. Provand is the vemacular for prebenda. A surname around Glasgow and also surname of a family long connected with Strathblane and Killearn. Richard de Prebenda who was clerk to William the Lion, is probably Richard de Prebenda, charter witness, c. 1190, 1200, and 1231." 1

Early Origins of the Proven family

The surname Proven was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

"Robert surnamed de Prebenda was elected dean of Dunkeld, 1248 (Chron. Mail., s.a.), Adam de Prebenda was clerk to the king, 1263 (Pap. Lett., I, p. 389), and Robert de Prebenda was bishop of Dunblane, 1258-82. John de Prebenda was burgess of Glasgow, 1428 (LCD., p. 245), and Stephen Provand had a remission for his share in burning the town of Dunbretane, 1489." 1

Provan Hall (also known as Provanhall, Hall of Provan and 'Hall Mailings') is a historic place composed of two buildings built about the 15th century and situated in Auchinlea Park, Easterhouse, Glasgow. Originally known as "Hall of Provan," it was probably built in the same era as The Provand's Lordship of Glasgow in the same area, now a medieval historic house museum.

Early History of the Proven family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Proven research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1258, 1489, 1521, 1549, 1552 and 1723 are included under the topic Early Proven History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Proven Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Provan, Provand, Provender, Proven and others.

Early Notables of the Proven family

More information is included under the topic Early Proven Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Proven migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Proven Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Jones Proven, aged 30, who arrived in Missouri in 1849 2
Juan Proven, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1870 2

Proven 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:

Proven Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. George Proven, (b. 1842), aged 22, Scottish farm labourer from Stirlingshire travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "William Miles" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 22nd October 1864 3

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html