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Prendergast History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Prendergast History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Prendergast surname belongs to the large category of Anglo-Norman habitation names, which are thought to have originally derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads in Normandy. In Ireland, the name was turned into a Gaelic form as de Priondragás; however, the name has also been replaced with MacSherone.

Early Origins of the Prendergast family

The surname Prendergast was first found in Pembrokeshire (Welsh: Sir Benfro), a county in south-west Wales, anciently part of the Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth, where they held a family seat from early times and were Lords of the manor of Prendergast and estates in that shire. Maurice, Lord of Prendergast was a great friend and neighbor of Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke. He accompanied Strongbow in the Anglo\Norman invasion of Ireland in 1172. He was summoned back to England by Henry II., in 1175 to escort the rebellious Robert, Earl of Essex, captive into Normandy in 1177. Upon his return to England he once again returned to Ireland and was rewarded with lands in Ireland in Waterford and south Mayo. 1

Early History of the Prendergast family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prendergast research. Another 173 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1641, 1660, 1689, 1703, 1709, 1710 and 1725 are included under the topic Early Prendergast History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prendergast Spelling Variations

A single person's name was often spelt simply as it sounded by medieval scribes and church officials. An investigation into the specific origins the name Prendergast has revealed that such a practice has resulted in many spelling variations over the years. A few of its variants include: Prendergast, Prendegast, Pendergast, Pendegast, Prendregast, Pendergrass, Pendergrist, Pender and many more.

Early Notables of the Prendergast family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was

Thomas Prendergast (d. 1725) of Croane, County Limerick; and his son, Brigadier-General Sir Thomas Prendergast (c. 1660-1709), 1st Baronet Prendergast, of Gort, Member of Parliament for Monaghan Borou...

Prendergast Ranking

In the United States, the name Prendergast is the 6,733^rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2

Prendergast migration to the United States +

In the 1840s, Ireland experienced a mass exodus to North America due to the Great Potato Famine. These families wanted to escape from hunger and disease that was ravaging their homeland. With the promise of work, freedom and land overseas, the Irish looked upon British North America and the United States as a means of hope and prosperity. Those that survived the journey were able to achieve this through much hard work and perseverance. Early immigration and passenger lists revealed many bearing the name Prendergast:

Prendergast Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Phillip Prendergast who settled in Virginia in 1643
Phillipp Prendergast, who arrived in Virginia in 1643 3

Prendergast Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Prendergast, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1772 3

Prendergast Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edward Prendergast, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1824 3
Michael Prendergast, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1856 3
Richard and Miles Prendergast, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1858
James Prendergast, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1867 3
John Prendergast, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1878 3

Prendergast migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Prendergast Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Johanna Prendergast, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1825
Miss. Catherine Prendergast, aged 5 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Avon" departing from the port of Avon, Cork but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 4
Mr. Timothy Prendergast, aged 30 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Avon" departing from the port of Avon, Cork but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 4
Mr. James Prendergast, aged 2 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Avon" departing 19th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th July 1847 but he died on board 5

Prendergast migration to Australia +

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

Prendergast Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Francis Prendergast, Welsh convict who was convicted in Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Miss Mary Prendergast, (Farrell), Irish convict who was convicted in Wicklow, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 2nd January 1804, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Miss Mary Prendergast, (Farrell), (b. 1791), aged 18, Irish convict who was convicted in Wicklow, Ireland for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 21st January 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1856 8
Eliza Prendergast, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Eliza" in 1849 9
Mr. Patrick Prendergast, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 27th August 1852, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Prendergast 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:

Prendergast Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mary Prendergast, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "William Watson" in 1859
Miss Mary Prendergast, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "William Watson" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th February 1859 11
Patrick Prendergast, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Telegraph" in 1863
Bridget Prendergast, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Telegraph" in 1863
Robert Prendergast, aged 37, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Helenslee" in 1864 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Prendergast (post 1700) +

Thomas Francis Prendergast (1871-1913), American Medal of Honor recipient
Michael "Mike" Thomas Prendergast, American Major League Baseball player
Maurice Brazil Prendergast (1858-1924), Canadian-born, American Post-Impressionist artist
John Prendergast (b. 1964), American author and human rights activist
Edmond Francis Prendergast (1843-1918), American Archbishop of Philadelphia
Mike Prendergast (1888-1967), American Major League Baseball player
Patrick "Paddy" Prendergast (1926-2021), Irish Gaelic footballer for Dungloe and Ballintubber, member of the Donegal and Cork senior football teams (1946-1956)
Thomas Prendergast (1806-1886), Irish inventor of the ‘mastery’ system of learning languages, his father, Sir Jeffery Prendergast, born at Clonmel in 1769, was in the service of the East India Company, becoming colonel of the 39th native infantry in 1825
John Patrick Prendergast (1808-1893), Irish historian, born at 37 Dawson Street, Dublin, the eldest son of Francis Prendergast (1768–1846), Registrar of the Court of Chancery, Ireland
Seamus Prendergast (b. 1980), Irish hurler
... (Another 21 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Prendergast 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: Vincit veritas
Motto Translation: Truth conquers.

Citations +

Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 51)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 92)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd June 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/experiment
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ELIZA 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Eliza.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html