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Pruett History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Pruett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales

The surname Pruett is derived from the Middle English word "prou," meaning "brave," or "valiant," with the addition of either of two common diminutive suffixes: "-et" or "-ot." As such, this name is thought to have originally been a nickname for someone small, but brave. 1 2

Early Origins of the Pruett family

The surname Pruett was first found in Carmarthenshire (Welsh: Sir Gaerfyrddin), located in Southwest Wales, one of thirteen historic counties and presently one of the principal area in Wales.

One of the first records of the family was found in Somerset where Matthew Pruet was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1202. Early London records show Richard Prouet, Pruet, Prowet, there in 1278 and 1280. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 show: Andrew Pruet and William Pruet, both in Cambridgeshire at that time. In Somerset, early records there show Thomas Pruwet, Walter Prowet and Juliana Prouet, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 1

Early History of the Pruett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pruett research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1202, 1278, 1558, 1599, 1680 and 1717 are included under the topic Early Pruett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pruett 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 Pruett has occasionally been spelled Pruett, Prewitt, Prewett, Pruet, Prewert and others.

Early Notables of the Pruett family

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

Pruett Ranking

In the United States, the name Pruett is the 2,243^rd most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 4

Pruett migration to the United States +

In the 1800s and 1900s, many Welsh families left for North America, in search of land, work, and freedom. Those who made the trip successfully helped contribute to the growth of industry, commerce, and the cultural heritage of both Canada and the United States. In the immigration and passenger lists were a number of people bearing the name Pruett

Pruett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Oliver Pruett, who landed in Virginia in 1663 5
William Pruett, who arrived in Maryland in 1676 5

Pruett Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Pruett, who settled in Rappahannock Virginia in 1729
Mary Pruett and her husband arrived in Pennsylvania in 1771

Pruett Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Josiah Pruett, who arrived in Texas in 1835 5
J. Pruett and his wife Mary arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850

Pruett migration to Australia +

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

Pruett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Pruett, (Hiller), British Convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Dunvegan Castle" on 13th March 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Pruett (post 1700) +

Robert Lewis "Bob" Pruett (b. 1943), American college football coach, twice MAC Coach of the Year (1997–1998)
Allan K. Pruett (1948-2008), American basketball player, Southland Player of the Year (1971)
Hubert Shelby "Hub" "Shucks" Pruett (1900-1982), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1922 to 1932
Kyle D. Pruett, American professor of child psychiatry, author, and television host
R. C. Pruett (b. 1944), American politician, Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives (2004-2016)
Scott Donald Pruett (b. 1960), American retired race car driver who had 16 major wins from 1986 to 2014
Brianna Lea Pruett (1983-2015), American singer-songwriter, musician, painter, poet and filmmaker
Jeanne Pruett (b. 1937), American country music singer and Grand Ole Opry star
Robert L. Pruett, American Republican politician, Member of Nevada State House of Representatives, 1950 7
Robert Pruett, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Texas 14th District, 2010 7
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Pruett family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Harry Roberts Pruett, British Midshipman Royal Navy Reserve, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 8

The Pruett 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: Deus pascit corvos
Motto Translation: God feeds the ravens.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dunvegan-castle
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html