Prescott History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 


Prescott is a name whose history is connected to the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Prescott family once lived near a priest's cottage. The surname is derived from the Old English elements preost, which meant priest, and cot, which meant cottage. This is a topographic surname; it is derived from a local geographical feature, instead of an already existing place-name. It may also denote employment at a priest's cottage. The Prescott name comes from having lived near a priest's cottage; it is derived from the Old English elements "preost," which meant "priest," and "cot," which meant "cottage." As such, this name is classed as a topographic surname; that is, one that is derived from a local geographical feature, rather than from an already existing place-name.

Early Origins of the Prescott family

The surname Prescott was first found in Lancashire at Prescot, a market-town and parish, and the head of a union, in the hundred of West Derby. 1 While there are also parishes in Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire, it is the Lancashire location that this family hails. "The Prescotts take their name from a Lancashire parish; they are also represented in Cheshire." 2 "The Lancashire town gave rise to a family that still flourishes in its local directories." 3

While most sources agree on the place of origin of the family and their first stronghold, ironically the first listing of the family used an ancient family spelling in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 as (Heredes) de Prestecote in Oxfordshire. 3 Later, Kirby's Quest listed Adam le Prestecote in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign.) 4

Early History of the Prescott family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prescott research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1726, 1789, 1815 and 1858 are included under the topic Early Prescott History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prescott Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Prescott family name include Prescott, Presscot, Presscot, Prescot, Prescop and others.

Early Notables of the Prescott family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Prescott Ranking

In the United States, the name Prescott is the 1,965th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 5


Prescott migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Prescott surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Prescott Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Prescott Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Prescott migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Prescott Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Prescott migration to Australia +

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

Prescott Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Prescott 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:

Prescott Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Prescott (post 1700) +


The Prescott 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: Lux mihi Deus
Motto Translation: God is my light.


Suggested Readings for the name Prescott +
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