Show ContentsPretty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the name Pretty begins in the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It was a name for a crafty or cunning individual. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English word prætig, which meant crafty. Some variants of the name have the suffix man appended to them; this seems to have occurred sometime in the late 15th or early 16th centuries.

Early Origins of the Pretty family

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

Early History of the Pretty family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pretty research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1192, 1612, 1661 and 1676 are included under the topic Early Pretty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pretty Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Pretty are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Pretty include: Prettyman, Pretyman, Pretty and others.

Early Notables of the Pretty family

Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pretty Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pretty Ranking

In Newfoundland, Canada, the name Pretty is the 335th most popular surname with an estimated 137 people with that name. 1


Pretty migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Pretty or a variant listed above:

Pretty Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • George Pretty, who settled in Virginia in 1607
  • Edward Pretty, who settled in New England in 1654
  • Thomas and Penelope Pretty, who settled in Virginia in 1654
  • Penelope Pretty, who landed in Maryland in 1669 2
  • Richard Pretty, aged 53, who arrived in New York in 1690 2
Pretty Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • George Pretty, who arrived in America in 1764 2
Pretty Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Benjamin F. Pretty, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1868
  • Wm. Pretty, aged 51, who immigrated to America, in 1893
Pretty Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • George Owen Pretty, aged 28, who landed in America from London, England, in 1909
  • Lilly Pretty, aged 37, who landed in America from London, England, in 1910
  • Rose Pretty, aged 26, who settled in America from Salesbury, England, in 1912
  • Edgar Pretty, aged 38, who immigrated to the United States from Crenwell, England, in 1913
  • William Pretty, aged 72, who immigrated to the United States from Ipswich, England, in 1914
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pretty migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pretty Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Jasper Pretty U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 3
Pretty Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Rebecca Pretty, aged 19, who arrived at St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1905
  • Elizabeth Pretty, aged 19, who arrived at Dildo, Newfoundland, in 1909
  • Elizabeth A. Pretty, aged 30, who arrived at Vancouver, British Colombia, in 1910
  • Frederick William Pretty, aged 43, who arrived at Rossland, B.C., in 1913
  • Jemima Pretty, aged 18, who arrived at Dildo, Newfoundland, in 1915
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pretty migration to Australia +

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

Pretty Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Dodwell Pretty, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for life, transported aboard the "Blenheim" on 11th March 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
  • Matthew Pretty, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Morley" in 1840 5
  • James Pretty, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Morley" in 1840 5
  • Robert Pretty, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Morley" in 1840 5
  • John Henry Pretty, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Morley" in 1840 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pretty 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:

Pretty Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Edward Pretty, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863

Contemporary Notables of the name Pretty (post 1700) +

  • Edith May Pretty (1883-1942), née Dempster, English landowner and amateur archaeologist from Elland, Yorkshire; the Anglo-Saxon Sutton Hoo ship burial was discovered on her land
  • Air Marshal Sir Walter Pretty KBE, CB (1909-1975), British Royal Air Force officer, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Signals Command (1961-1964)
  • Donald Wayne Pretty (b. 1936), Canadian silver medalist rower at the 1956 Summer Olympics
  • David Pretty (b. 1951), former Australian rules footballer who played for North Melbourne (1969-1973)
  • Charles Fenn Pretty (1865-1940), Canadian forester from Belleville, Ontario, he moved to New Westminster, BC in 1890, founded Pretty's Timber Exchange in 1903, considered the father of the forestry industry in British Columbia
  • Lloyd Pretty, Newfoundland contemporary fine artist from Stephenville
  • Diane Pretty (1958-2002), British woman from Luton who became notable after being the focus of a debate about the laws of euthanasia in United Kingdom
  • Robert Pretty, British Clergyman


  1. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  2. 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)
  3. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blenheim
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MORLEY 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Morley.htm


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