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Proby History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Proby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales
Ireland

The Celtic name of Proby was derived from the rugged landscape of Wales. This old, proud name is derived from the personal name Robin. The surname Proby features the distinctive Welsh patronymic prefix ap-. The original form of the name was ap-Robin, but the prefix has been assimilated into the surname over the course of time and the overall spelling has sometimes been extensively altered.

Early Origins of the Proby family

The surname Proby was first found in Cheshire, where they held a family seat. Said to be descended from Ynyr, King of Gwent, the family held estates at Oldcastle and Newton. From Malpas they were a strong influence in West Cheshire, and Wirral life about the year 1200. Elton Hall in Elton, Cambridgeshire has been the ancestral home of the Proby family since 1660. Sir Thomas Proby, 1st Baronet (1632-April 1689) inherited Elton Hall from his father Sir Heneage Proby (died 1667.)

Early History of the Proby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Proby research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1545, 1550, 1576, 1632, 1639, 1660, 1678, 1679, 1685, 1689, 1693, 1695, 1698, 1702, 1710, 1721, 1723, 1724, 1726, 1742, 1762, 1796, 1843, 1874 and 1902 are included under the topic Early Proby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Proby Spelling Variations

Compared to other ancient cultures found in the British Isles, the number of Welsh surnames are relatively few, but there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations. These spelling variations began almost as soon as surname usage became common. People could not specify how to spell their own names leaving the specific recording up to the individual scribe or priest. Those recorders would then spell the names as they heard them, causing many different variations. Later, many Welsh names were recorded in English. This transliteration process was extremely imprecise since the Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh used many sounds the English language was not accustomed to. Finally, some variations occurred by the individual's design: a branch loyalty within a family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The Proby name over the years has been spelled Probyn, Probin, Probbin, Probbyn, Propert, Probert, Proppert, Probins, Probyns, Ap Robin, Ap Robert, Proby and many more.

Early Notables of the Proby family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

Sir Heneage Proby of Elton Huntingdonshire; and his son, Sir Thomas Proby, 1st Baronet (1632-1689), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Amersham (1660-1679) and Huntingdonshire (1679-1685)...
Sir Edmiund Probyn (1678-1742), was a Welsh jurist, eldest son of William Probyn of Newland in the Forest of Dean. He was made a Welsh judge in 1721, serjeant-at-law on 27 Jan. 1723-1724. He died with...

Migration of the Proby family to Ireland

Some of the Proby family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Proby migration to the United States +

The Welsh began to emigrate to North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s in search of land, work, and freedom. Those that arrived helped shape the industry, commerce, and the cultural heritage of both Canada and the United States. The records regarding immigration and passenger show a number of people bearing the name Proby:

Proby Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Geo Proby, who arrived in Virginia in 1647 1
Richard Proby who was recorded as having arrived in Virginia in 1655
Richard Proby, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 1

Proby Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Joh Hen Proby, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 1

Proby migration to Australia +

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

Proby Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Hugh Proby, aged 23, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Wellington" in 1851 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Proby (post 1700) +

P.J. Proby (b. 1938), born James Marcus Smith, an American singer, songwriter, and actor
Douglas James Proby DL, JP (1856-1931), born Douglas Hamilton, British politician and soldier who changed his name to Proby in 1904 after acquiring Elton Hall, Cambridgeshire
Granville Leveson Proby (1782-1868), 3rd Earl of Carysfort, British naval commander and politician, Member of the United Kingdom Parliament for County Wicklow (1816-1829)
William Proby KP (1836-1909), 5th Earl of Carysfort, English peer, Lord Lieutenant of Wicklow (1890–1909)
William Allen Proby (1779-1804), Lord Proby was a British Royal Navy officer and politician
John Proby (1780-1855), 2nd Earl of Carysfort, British military commander and politician, Member of Parliament for Buckingham (1805–1806), and for Huntingdonshire (1806–1807) and (1814-1818)
Hugh Proby (1826-1852), English settler to South Australia, founder of Kanyaka Station, son of the 3rd Earl of Carysfort
Granville Leveson Proby KP, PC, (b. 1824), 4th Earl of Carysfort, British politician, Comptroller of the Household between 1859 and 1866
John Proby KB PC (1720-1772), 1st Baron Carysfort, British politician, Member of Parliament for Stamford (1747–1754), and for Huntingdonshire (1754–1768)
John Joshua Proby KP, PC, FRS (b. 1751), 1st Earl of Carysfort, British jurist, politician and poet, Joint Master of the Rolls in Ireland (1789-1801), Joint Postmaster General (1806-1807)
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Proby 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: Manus haec inimica tyrannis
Motto Translation: This hand is hostile to tyrants.

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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WELLINGTON 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Wellington.htm