Show ContentsPropes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Celtic name of Propes was derived from the rugged landscape of Wales. This old, proud name is derived from the personal name Robin. The surname Propes 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 Propes family

The surname Propes 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 Propes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Propes 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 Propes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Propes Spelling Variations

Welsh surnames are relatively few in number, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. There are many factors that explain the preponderance of Welsh variants, but the earliest is found during the Middle Ages when Welsh surnames came into use. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, which often resulted in a single person's name being inconsistently recorded over his lifetime. The transliteration of Welsh names into English also accounts for many of the spelling variations: the unique Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh had many sounds the English language was incapable of accurately reproducing. It was also common for members of a same surname to change their names slightly, in order to signify a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations. For all of these reasons, the many spelling variations of particular Welsh names are very important. The surname Propes has occasionally been spelled Probyn, Probin, Probbin, Probbyn, Propert, Probert, Proppert, Probins, Probyns, Ap Robin, Ap Robert, Proby and many more.

Early Notables of the Propes 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); John Proby (1639-1710), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Huntingdonshire (1693-1695) and (1698-1702); and John Proby (c. 1698-1762), a British Member of Parliament. He was son of Wlliam Proby, Governor of...
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Propes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Propes Ranking

In the United States, the name Propes is the 13,674th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]

Ireland Migration of the Propes family to Ireland

Some of the Propes 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.

Migration of the Propes family

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in search of land, work, and freedom. These immigrants greatly contributed to the rapid development of the new nations of Canada and the United States. They also added a rich and lasting cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. Investigation of immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Propes: Richard Proby who was recorded as having arrived in Virginia in 1655; John Probert arrived in Maryland in 1678; Hugh ApRobert, accompanied by his mother Katherine Owen, his wife and five children, arrived in Pennsylvania in 1683.


Contemporary Notables of the name Propes (post 1700) +

  • Stephen C. Propes (b. 1942), American music consultant, known for his work on Heart of Dixie (1989) and Bible Madness (1996)
  • Chris Propes, American actor, known for The Price of Power: William Goebel the Man and the Myth (2009)
  • Bobby Propes, American cameraman and actor, known for his work in Of Little Convenience (2012), Fit to Burst (2012) and Fishbone (2013)
  • Steve Propes, American record collector, disc jockey, and writer from Long Beach, California


The Propes 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.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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