Prior History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 
  Scotland 


The name Prior reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Prior family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest in 1066. Prior is a name for a monastic official immediately subordinate to an abbot having derived from the Old English word prior, meaning superior, and indicates that the original bearer of the name held this position. 1 2 3

Early Origins of the Prior family

The surname Prior was first found in Suffolk where Roger Priur was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1205. A few years later, Roger le Priur was found in the Feet of Fines for Cheshire in 1237 and Nicholas le Prior was in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1268. 1

In the plural form, Editha le Priores was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327; and William atte Priours was in the Subsidy Rolls for Essex in 1327. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include Hugh le Priur, Suffolk; Richard le Prior, Suffolk; and Hugh Priour, Huntingdonshire. 3

In Somerset, early rolls there provide John Priour, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 4

In Scotland, Ricardus Priour was subprior of the Abbey of Dunfermline in 1448. Janet Prior was married in Perth in 1568 and Robert Pryor in Dundee was charged with aiding the English in 1552. 5

Early History of the Prior family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prior research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1125, 1664, 1680, 1682, 1721, 1751 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Prior History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prior Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Prior, Pryor and others.

Early Notables of the Prior family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Prior World Ranking

In the United States, the name Prior is the 5,297th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 6 However, in Australia, the name Prior is ranked the 678th most popular surname with an estimated 5,783 people with that name. 7 And in the United Kingdom, the name Prior is the 645th popular surname with an estimated 10,161 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Prior family to Ireland

Some of the Prior family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Prior migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Prior or a variant listed above:

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

Prior migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Prior Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Prior migration to Australia +

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

Prior Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Prior 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:

Prior Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Prior (post 1700) +


The Prior 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: Speriamo
Motto Translation: We hope
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