Show ContentsProvince History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Province surname is a habitational name, taken on from "the lands of Provan, formerly a possession of the prebendary of Barlanark, one of the canons of Glasgow cathedral. Provand is the vemacular for prebenda. A surname around Glasgow and also surname of a family long connected with Strathblane and Killearn. Richard de Prebenda who was clerk to William the Lion, is probably Richard de Prebenda, charter witness, c. 1190, 1200, and 1231." 1

Early Origins of the Province family

The surname Province was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

"Robert surnamed de Prebenda was elected dean of Dunkeld, 1248 (Chron. Mail., s.a.), Adam de Prebenda was clerk to the king, 1263 (Pap. Lett., I, p. 389), and Robert de Prebenda was bishop of Dunblane, 1258-82. John de Prebenda was burgess of Glasgow, 1428 (LCD., p. 245), and Stephen Provand had a remission for his share in burning the town of Dunbretane, 1489." 1

Provan Hall (also known as Provanhall, Hall of Provan and 'Hall Mailings') is a historic place composed of two buildings built about the 15th century and situated in Auchinlea Park, Easterhouse, Glasgow. Originally known as "Hall of Provan," it was probably built in the same era as The Provand's Lordship of Glasgow in the same area, now a medieval historic house museum.

Early History of the Province family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Province research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1258, 1489, 1521, 1549, 1552 and 1723 are included under the topic Early Province History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Province Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Provan, Provand, Provender, Proven and others.

Early Notables of the Province family

More information is included under the topic Early Province Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Province Ranking

In the United States, the name Province is the 8,540th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2


Province migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Province Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Matthew Province, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1802 3
  • Samuel Province, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1840 3
  • Andrew Province, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1840 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Province (post 1700) +

  • Leora Province, American Democratic Party politician, Presidential Elector for Washington, 1996 4
  • Elsie Province, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alabama, 1972 4


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. 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)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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