Pratt Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Pratt Origin:

Belgium, England, Ireland

Origins of Name:

The surname of Pratt has Anglo-Saxon origins, and is derived from the Old English Pre 7th Century word “praett” which can be translated to mean “a trick.” This surname most likely derived from a nickname for someone who performed tricks, such as a magician or a conjuror. This surname was most likely derived from either the occupation of a person or group, or was created based on the characteristics, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, mental and moral characteristics, habits, or the way that someone dressed. Occupational surnames were given to the original bearer because the name denoted their actual occupation. These surnames became hereditary after the original bearer, but often denoted that the son had followed in his father’s footsteps and taken up the same occupation.

Variations:

More common variations are:

Pratty, Peratt, Pratti, Pratte, Pratto, Pratta, Paratt, Poratt, Piratt, Pruatt

History:

England:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Pratt was in the country of England, in the year of 1179. One person, by the name of Wilfric Prat was mentioned in the document called the “Seals Register” of the county of Suffolk. This document was ordered, decreed, and written under the reign of King Henry II of England, who ruled from the year 1154 to the year 1189. Other mentions of the surname of Pratt can be found throughout history in the country of England. Aedmund Pret was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire in the year 1192, and one Dereman le Prat was recorded in Kent in the year 1198. In church records, one Abell Pratt, who was the son of Arthur Pratt, was christened at the church of St. Bartholomew Exchange in the city of London in the year of 1567. Those who carry the surname of Pratt in the country of England can be found in high volume in the county of Norfollk.

United States:

During the 1600’s settlers in Europe began to feel disgruntled with their homeland. These settlers began to look for new lives, and new freedoms that were not afforded to them in the country of their birth. Many of these people were migrating to the United States of America because this land promised freedom from religious persecution, the promise of new land, and the promise of little to no taxation. This migration of people was referred to as the European Migration, and brought many new people to the United States of America, which at that time was referred to as The New World or The Colonies. The first person who bore the surname of Pratt in the United States of America was one Phineas Pratt, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the year 1622. Thomas Pratt set sail for the New World in the year 1635, when he was only seventeen years of age. Thomas Pratt settled in the state of Virginia in the same year.Those who bear the surname of Pratt in the United States of America can be found in the states of Massachusetts, New York, California, New Jersey, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa and the state of Washington in higher concentrations than the rest of the United States.

Pratt Today:

United States 69,880

Sierra Leone 21,063

England 12,750

Australia 6,935

Canada 6,026

Nigeria 3,821

South Africa 3,543

Ghana 3,275

Liberia 3,213

The Bahamas 1,758

Notable People:

Betty Rosenquest Pratt (1925-2016) who was an amateur tennis player from America who was the co-winner of the 1956 U.S. National Championships

Daria Pratt (1860-1938) who was an Olympian from America who won the bronze medal for golf at the 1900 Summer Olympic Games

Brigadier-General Don Forrester Pratt (1892-1944) who was an Assistant Comrade of the General 101st Airborne Division of North-West Europe from America, and served from the year 1942 to the year 1944

Major-General Henry Conger Pratt (1882-1966) who was a Commanding General of the Western Defense Command who was from America, and served from the year 1944 to the year 1945

Spencer William Pratt (born in 1983) who is a television personality from America

Kyla Alissa Pratt (born in 1986) who is an actress and singer from America, best known for her work on Barney & Friends, Let’s Stay Together, The Proud Family and many more

Murray Fletcher Pratt (1897-1956) who was a science fiction writer from America, as well as an author of fantasy and history

Theodore Pratt (1901-1969) who was a writer from America

Bela Lyon Pratt (1867-1917) who was a sculptor from America

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Marquess of Camden). Motto—Judicium parium aut lex terrae. Quarterly, 1st and 4th, sa. on a fess betw. three elephants’ heads erased ar. as many mullets of the first, for Pratt; 2nd and 3rd, sa. a chev. betw. three spears’ heads ar. the points embrued, for Jeffreys. Crests—1st, Pratt: An elephant’s head erased ar.; 2nd: A dragon’s head erased vert, holding in the mouth a sinister hand couped at the wrist gu. and about the neck a chain, and pendent therefrom a portcullis or. Supporters—Dexter, a griffin sa. beak and claws gu.; sinister, a lion ramp. or, each gorged with a collar ar. charged with three mullets sa.
2) (Ryston Hall, co. Norfolk; descended from Edmund Pratt, Esq., Lord of the Manor of Carles in Hockwold, temp. Henry VIII.). Motto—Rident florentia prata. Ar. on a chev. sa. betw. two pellets, each charged with a martlet of the first in chief, and another pellet in base, charged with a trefoil slipped ar. three mascles or, quartering Gylour, viz., Sa. on a chev. ar. betw. three pewits’ heads erased erm. beaked gu. as many annulets of the field. Crest—Betw. a branch of oak and another of pine ppr. each fructed or, a wolf’s head per pale ar. and sa gorged with a collar, charged with three roundles, all counterchanged, langued and erased gu.
3) (Hathern, co. Leicester, and Southwark, co. Surrey; granted 23 August, 1601). Az. three bezants, each charged with a martlet of the first, a chief or. Crest—A demi unicorn salient or, holding in the paws a mascle az.
4) (co. Leicster). Sa. a chev. or, in base three bezants, each charged with a martlet az. Crest—A demi unicom or, holding a lozenge az.
5) (co. Norfolk). Ar. on a chev. sa. betw. three pellets, each charged with a martlet of the field, as many mascles or. Crest—A wolf’s head par pale ar. and sa. Another Crest—A lion’s head couped sa. pierced in bend sinister by a broken spear or.
6) (London). Ar. on a fess az. three mascles or, betw. as many pellets, on each an annulet of the first.
7) (co. Suffolk). Ar. on a chev. sa. betw. three pellets each charged with an escallop or, as many mascles of the third. Crest—A lizard vert, ducally gorged and lined or.
8) Ar. on a chev. sa. betw. three pellets as many mascles or. Crest—A wolf’s head erased quarterly ar. and sa.
9) (co. Meath; Joseph Pratt, Esq., temp. Charles II.; Fun. Ent. Ulster’s Office, 1680, his wife Lydia, dau. of Abraham Clement, of Killenacrate, co. Cavan). Ar. on a chev. betw. three pellets, each charged with a martlet of the field, as many mascles of the last. Crest—A falcon ppr. belled and jessed or.
10) (Youghal and Castlemartyr, co. Cork; granted by Betham, Ulster, to Lieut-General John Pratt, Rev. James Pratt, Rector of Kilnglory, co. Cork, Colonel Charles Pratt, and the descendants of their grandfather, James Pratt, Esq., of Youghal). Gu. on a fess or, three mullets sa. betw. as many elephants’ heads erased of the second, tusked ar. Crest—An elephant’s head erased sa. tusked or.
11) (Cabra Castle, co. Cavan; confirmed by Betham, Ulster, to Rev. Joseph Pratt, of that place). Motto—Virtute et armis. Quarterly, 1st and 4th, ar. on a chev.sa. betw. three pellets, each charged with a martlet of the first, as many mascles of the field, for Pratt; 2nd and 3rd, or, an adder curling and erected on its tail sa., for Coach. Crest—A lion’s head erased gu. pierced through the back of the neck with a broken spear ppr.