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| Origins Available: |
| | Scotland |
The people known in ancient Scotland as the Picts were the ancestors of the first to use Proffitt as a name. It was a name for a person who played the part of a prophet in a medieval pageant. However, another source claims "this name owes its origin to an ancestor who had enacted such a part in mediaeval pageant. and the suggestion is not unlikely." 1
The surname Proffitt was first found in Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain), a historic county, and present day Council Area of Aberdeen, located in the Grampian region of northeastern Scotland.
One of the first records of the family was William Propheta who was charter witness in Aberdeen in 1281. Later, John Profite was admitted burgess of the same burgh in 1440. A few years later, Thom Propheit appears as "mair of the quarter of Brechin" and sheriff-depute of Forfar in 1473. 1
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Proffitt research. Another 31 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1450, 1467, 1470 and 1552 are included under the topic Early Proffitt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In medieval Scotland, names were more often spelled according to sound than any regular set of rules. An enormous number of spelling variations were the result. Over the years, the name Proffitt has been spelled Proffit, Profat, Profet, Profett, Profit, Prophat, Prophet and many more.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Proffitt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the United States, the name Proffitt is the 3,017th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 2
In such difficult times, Ireland, Australia, and North America looked like better homes for many Scots. The trips were expensive and grueling, but also rewarding, as the colonies were havens for those unwelcome in the old country. That legacy did not die easily, though, and many were forced to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. The Scottish legacy has resurface in more recent times, though, through Clan societies, highland games, and other organizations. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the old Scottish name of Proffitt: