| ![Show Contents]() Pridgen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Pridgen is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Pridgen comes from the ancient and forgotten given name Prujean. Alternatively, the name could have been a nickname derived from the Middle English word "pygeon" as "bird-names are among the most common of the nickname class of surnames. 1 Interestingly, the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae of 1180-1195 lists John Pichon, Normandy 1180-1195. This could point to either another origin or that the name was in fact originally a Norman name. 2 Early Origins of the Pridgen familyThe surname Pridgen was first found in various counties and shires throughout ancient Britain. Alan Pigun was the first record of the family and he was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Norfolk in 1200 and the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1202. Ralf Pyjun was listed in the Assise Rolls of Somerset in 1268. 3 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list William Pigun in Norfolk and Richard Pigun in Cambridgeshire. 4 The Subsidy Rolls for Sussex list a wide range of phonetic variants: "Relicta Pygon, 1296; Relicta Pijohan, John Petijohan, John Pyion, John Pyion, Jopn Petiion and Thomas Pyion 1327. " 3 Early History of the Pridgen familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pridgen research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1593 and 1666 are included under the topic Early Pridgen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Pridgen Spelling VariationsA multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Pigeon, Pidgeon and others. Early Notables of the Pridgen familyAnother 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pridgen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Pridgen RankingIn the United States, the name Pridgen is the 3,432nd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 5  Migration of the Pridgen family to Ireland
Some of the Pridgen 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.
| Pridgen migration to the United States | + |
Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Pridgen or a variant listed above:
Pridgen Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Louise S. Pridgen, aged 45, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
- C. T. Pridgen, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States, in 1924
- Leo Pridgen, aged 18, who settled in America, in 1924
| Contemporary Notables of the name Pridgen (post 1700) | + |
- Leon Pridgen, American actor, known for his work on The Program (1993), Renaissance Man (1994) and Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice (1992)
- Elizabeth Pridgen, American pianist, G. Leslie Chair of Music at Mercer University
- Gaston Layton "G.L." Pridgen (b. 1944), American politician, Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly (2011-)
- Thomas Armon Pridgen (b. 1983), American drummer, known for his work with The Memorials, The Mars Volta, Christian Scott, Wicked Wisdom, Keyshia Cole, and others
- Wiley W. Pridgen, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Alabama, 1912
- Paul M. Pridgen, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from South Carolina, 1952
- George M. Pridgen, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 1916
- Brenda Pridgen, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maryland, 1988
- Bolivar J. Pridgen, American politician, U.S. Consul in Piedras Negras, 1884
- Geraldine Pridgen Boykin, American Democratic Party politician, Presidential Elector for District of Columbia, 1972 6
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Pridgen migration to the United States 
England
Ireland
