Show ContentsPrestedge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Prestedge Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Prestedge

What does the name Prestedge mean?

The name Prestedge is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in Prestwick, Northumberland, or in Prestwich, in Cheshire. Prestwich is now part of Greater Manchester. The place names Prestwick and Prestwich have an identical etymology; they are derived from the Old English words preost, which meant priest, and wic, which meant farm. The place names taken as a whole mean "priest's farm."

Early Origins of the Prestedge family

The surname Prestedge was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Prestedge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prestedge research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1250 is included under the topic Early Prestedge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prestedge Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Prestedge has been spelled many different ways, including Prestwick, Preswick, Preswicke, Prestwich and others.

Early Notables of the Prestedge family

More information is included under the topic Early Prestedge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Prestedge family to Ireland

Some of the Prestedge family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prestedge migration to the United States+

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Prestedges to arrive in North America:

Prestedge Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edw Prestedge, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 1

The Prestedge 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: In te domine speravi
Motto Translation: In thee, O Lord, I have placed my hope.
  1. 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)

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