Prunner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The region that comprises the modern state of Austria is the ancient homeland of the Prunner family. Austria, which was originally home to a Celtic people, was conquered by the Roman Empire in about 15 BC. Following the fall of Rome, Austria was repeatedly invaded by barbarian tribes, such as the Vandals, Visigoths, and Huns, who swept in from the east. During the 5th and 6th centuries, the Alemanni, Avars and Slavs settled Austria. The Avars were defeated in 785 by the Frankish emperor Charlemagne, who set up the East Mark, which later became known as the Österreich. Austria was ruled by the Babenburger dynasty until 1278, when they were succeeded by the Hapsburg dynasty, which ruled Austria until the 20th century.

Early Origins of the Prunner family

The surname Prunner was first found in Austria and Tyrol, where the family contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation and would later play a large role in the political conflicts of the area. The family branched into many houses, some of which acquired estates and manors throughout the surrounding regions, where they played significant roles in the social and political affairs. The oldest and most prominent branch was known as Brunner (Prunner) von Vasoltsberg. They were members of the Styrian nobility from as early as 1363. The progenitor is believed to be one "Heinrich," a relative of Count Eberhard zu Wallsee, who lived around 1363. Of his direct descendants, Colomann Brunner was Privy Councillor to the Austrian Emperor around 1566.

Early History of the Prunner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prunner research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1380, 1410, 1531, 1571, 1745, 1840 and 1915 are included under the topic Early Prunner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prunner Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Prunner include Brunner, Bruner, Bruenner, Bruener, Breunner, Breuner, Bruenn and many more.

Early Notables of the Prunner family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Prunner were Conrad Brunner (died 1410), a Swiss Benedictine monk, he was abbot of the monastery at Muri in today's Canton of Aargau (1380-death), joined the order and in 1380, elected abbot, first head of...
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Prunner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prunner migration to the United States +

After the First World War, Austria became a republic. The Treaty of Versailles broke up the empire in 1919 and many of the Sudeten Germans were incorporated into the new nation of Czechoslovakia. In the 20th century, many Austrians migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Prunner were

Prunner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hendrick Prunner, aged 24, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1736 1

Prunner migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Prunner Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Peter Prunner U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1786 2
Mr. Peter Prunner Sr., U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Royal Regiment of New York 2

Citations +

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)
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