Prise History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales
Ireland

The Welsh name Prise is a patronymic surname created from the Welsh personal name Rhys, which also took the forms Rice and Rees. The surname Prise was originally ap-Rhys, ap-Rice, or ap-Rees: the distinctive Welsh patronymic prefix "ap," means "son of," but the prefix has been assimilated into the surname over the course of time.

Early Origins of the Prise family

The surname Prise was first found in Merionethshire (Welsh: Sir Feirionnydd), made a county in Northwest Wales in 1284, and anciently part of the kingdom of Gwynedd, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Prise family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prise research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1505, 1573, 1596, 1599, 1605, 1619, 1628, 1630, 1640, 1646, 1648, 1651, 1657, 1660, 1661, 1666, 1671, 1675, 1678, 1691, 1744, 1752 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Prise History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prise Spelling Variations

Although there are not an extremely large number Welsh surnames, there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations of those surnames. This variety of spellings began almost immediately after the acceptance of surnames within Welsh society. As time progressed, these old Brythonic names were eventually were recorded in English. This process was problematic in that many of the highly inflected sounds of the native language of Wales could not be properly captured in English. Some families, however, did decide to modify their own names to indicate a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even a patriotic affiliation. The name Prise has seen various spelling variations: Price, Pryce and others.

Early Notables of the Prise family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Marchwithian, Chieftain of the Prices in North Wales; Sir John Price, Ap Price, Ap Rhys (died 1573), Welsh visitor of the monasteries, was son of Rhys ab Gwilym; Sir John Pryce (Price), 1st Baronet (ca. 1596-ca. 1657), an Anglo-Welsh Baronet and Member of Parliament, initially a Royalist in 1628 he was created a Baronet; Sir Richard Pryse, 1st Baronet (died 1651), a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1646 to 1648; Sir Richard Pryse, 2nd Baronet (c.1630-c.1675), a Welsh landowner and politician who...
Another 97 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Prise Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Prise family to Ireland

Some of the Prise family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prise migration to the United States +

The Welsh migration to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed greatly to its rapid development. These migrants were in search of land, work, and freedom. Those Welsh families that survived the long ocean journey were critical to the development of new industries and factories, and to the quick settlement of land. They also added to an ever-growing rich cultural heritage. A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Prise:

Prise Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edward Prise, aged 29, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "George" 1
Jon Prise, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 1

Prise Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Prise, who landed in Virginia in 1705 1

Prise Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Prise, aged 23, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Caroll of Canallton" in 1840 2
John Prise, aged 30, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Atlantic" in 1848 2
Amby Prise, aged 32, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "John Olney" in 1851 2
Isabelle Prise, aged 20, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Wm F. Schmidt" in 1855 2
Esperance Prise, aged 27, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Wm F. Schmidt" in 1855 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Prise migration to Australia +

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

Prise Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Alexander Prise, Scottish convict from Aberdeen, who was transported aboard the "America" on April 4, 1829, settling in New South Wales, Australia 3

The Prise 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: Vita brevis gloria aeterna
Motto Translation: Life is short, glory eternal

Citations +

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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 9th February 2023. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 26) America voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1829 with 176 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/america/1829