| ![Show Contents]() Prather History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England The Prather surname comes from the word Latin "praetor," and was a term used for a reeve, the chief magistrate or bailiff of a district. Additionally, the name could have meant "leader." The Pretorius variant is a common Afrikaans surname which is unique to South Africa. Early Origins of the Prather familyThe surname Prather was first found in Lincolnshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The family name was first referenced in the year 1150 when Willelmus Pretor held estates in that shire. Later, Robertus Preter was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1208. 1 By the 16th century, early spelling variations of the name appeared in Germany including Jacob Praetorius the Elder (c. 1520-1586), the German organist and composer. He was the first of many listed in this century, but how the English and German families are related is unknown. Moreover how the South African variant Pretorius became so popular there is again unknown. Early History of the Prather familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prather research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Prather History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Prather Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Prater, Preater, Prather, Pretor, Prether and many more. Early Notables of the Prather familyMore information is included under the topic Early Prather Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Prather RankingIn the United States, the name Prather is the 1,907th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 2
| Prather migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Prather Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Jonathan Prather, who arrived in Virginia sometime between 1634 and 1789
Prather Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Annie C. Prather, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States, in 1895
Prather Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Emma Fr. Prather, aged 45, who settled in America, in 1905
- Elisabeth Prather, aged 23, who landed in America, in 1905
- Abby W. Prather, aged 25, who landed in America, in 1906
- Elizabeth Prather, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
- Katharina Prather, who immigrated to America, in 1910
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Prather (post 1700) | + |
- Guy Prather (b. 1958), American NFL linebacker who played from 1981 to 1985 for the Green Bay Packers
- Waylon Prather (b. 1985), American football punter
- Hugh Prather (1938-2010), American author, minister, and counselor
- H. Lee Prather, American football and basketball coach
- Richard Scott Prather (1921-2007), American mystery novelist
- Brianne Danielle Prather (b. 1980), American actress, best known for her role as Hillary Lighter on the Disney Channel show The Jersey
- Lieutenant Commander Victor A. Prather Jr (1923-1961), American flight surgeon, best known for his contributions to "Project RAM", a government project to develop the space suit
- Maurice William Prather (1926-2001), American motion picture and still photographer and film director
- Henry Prather Fletcher (1873-1959), American Republican politician, Served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War; Lawyer; U.S. Minister to Chile, 1909-14; Luxembourg, 1923-24; U.S. Ambassador to Chile, 1914-16; Mexico, 1916-19; Belgium, 1922-24; Italy, 1924-29; Chairman of Republican National Committee, 1934-36; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1936 (speaker); Delegate to Republican National Convention from Rhode Island, 1940 (member, Arrangements Committee; Member, Resolutions Committee) 3
- Samuel Prather Snider (1845-1928), American Republican politician, Member of Minnesota State Legislature; U.S. Representative from Minnesota 4th District, 1889-91 4
| Historic Events for the Prather family | + |
USS Indianapolis - Clarence Jefferson Prather, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 5
| Suggested Readings for the name Prather | + |
- Robert and Marshall, the Prather Family in Louisiana, from Wales, England, Virginia, Maryland by Dudley Austin Tatman.
- Nellie B.: Tales of a Texan by Angela Morgan Burton.
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