Pritoe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Pritoe is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Pritoe family lived in Cornwall, at Prideaux, from whence they derived their name.

Early Origins of the Pritoe family

The surname Pritoe was first found in Cornwall, home to Prideaux Castle, an Iron Age hillfort near St Blazey and Prideaux Place, a country house near Padstow that has been in the Prideaux-Brune family for over 400 years. They family trace their descent from Paganus, lord of Prideaux Castle, in Luxulion in the time of William I. 1

"The manor of Treslothan, [Camborne] upon which estate there are some remains of an ancient chapel, was in moieties between the families of Prideaux and Arundell, in the early part of the seventeenth century." 2

"The ancient family of Prideaux can trace their pedigree up to the period of the Norman Conquest, at which time Paganus was lord of Prideaux. Of the elder branch of this family, the last male heir died about the year 1490. When this event took place, the heiress carried Prideaux Castle in Luxulian, to the Herles of West Herle in Northumberland. At this time a younger branch of the Prideaux family settled at Orchardon in Devonshire; and of this branch a younger son settled at Thuborough, from whom sprang a still younger branch that took up their abode at Padstow, so early as the days of Henry VIII. From this ancestor has descended the Rev. Charles Prideaux, who has taken the additional name of Brune, pursuant to the will of his great uncle Charles Brune, Esq. the last male heir of an ancient baronial family of Plumber in Dorsetshire." 2

Continuing our quest in nearby Devon: "In the reign of Elizabeth the manor [of Sidmouth] was leased to Sir William Perryan, and in that of James I. to Sir Christopher Mainwaring; it was subsequently sold to Sir Edmond Prideaux, with the exception of the great tithes, which were given to Wadham College, and now belong to the Rev. William Jenkins, the incumbent. The manor was purchased from Sir Wilmot Prideaux by Thomas Jenkins, Esq." 3

Early History of the Pritoe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pritoe research. Another 197 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1555, 1578, 1590, 1596, 1602, 1606, 1622, 1626, 1629, 1640, 1641, 1647, 1648, 1650, 1659, 1667, 1675, 1682, 1695, 1705, 1720, 1724, 1729 and 1766 are included under the topic Early Pritoe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pritoe Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Pritoe are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Pritoe include Prideaux, Prideux and others.

Early Notables of the Pritoe family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Prideaux D.D. (1578-1650), an English academic and Bishop of Worcester; Sir Peter Prideaux, 2nd Baronet (1596-1682); Sir Peter Prideaux, 3rd Baronet (1626-1705); Sir Edmund Prideaux, 4th Baronet (1647-1720); Sir Edmund Prideaux, 5th Baronet (1675-1729); Sir John Prideaux, 6th Baronet (1695-1766); Richard Prideaux (1606-1667), an English politician who...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pritoe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pritoe family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Pritoe, or a variant listed above: Nicholas Prideaux who settled in Barbados in 1678; with his servants, wife and child.

Citations +

Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.