Prince Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Prince Surname Name Meaning, Origin, History, & Etymology
The English surname Prince, originally the French surname LePrince, derives from the Middle English and Old French word prince, ultimately from the Latin word princeps, that denoted a person who behaved in a regal manner or won the title of Prince in a contest of skill. It is also possible this Anglo-French-Latin last name originally denoted someone who was a prince’s servant.

Surname Spelling variants
Spelling or names with similar etymologies include Prynce, Le Prince, Prinz, Printz, Prence, and Prins.

Early Bearers
The earliest documented bearer of this name is Robert Prince, who was documented in the Pipe Rolls of Cumberland in 1177 AD. Robert le Prins was documented in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327 AD. The Poll Tax Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379 AD also list two bearers: Willelmus Prynce and Isolda Prynce. In Scotland, Magnus Prince was dean of a guild in Edinburg in 1686. Patrick Prince was a merchant in Kirkwall, Scotland in 1697.

Popularity & Geographic Distribution
The last name Prince ranks 825^th in popularity in the United Status as of the 2000 Census. The name ranks particularly high in the following four states: Alaska (306^th), South Carolina (374^th), Alabama (390^th), and Tennessee (419^th).

The surname Prince frequency/commonness ranks as follows in the British Isles: England (565^th), Scotland (2,481^st), Wales (582^nd), Ireland (4,561^st) and Northern Ireland (2,902^nd). In England, it ranks highest in Shropshire. In Scotland, the surname ranks highest in East Ayrshire. In Ireland, it ranks highest Ulster. In Wales, it ranks highest in Wrexham.

The name is also present throughout the remainder English speaking world: Canada (704^th), New Zealand (897^th), Australia (1,139^th), and South Africa (900^th). The name also is present in France, where it ranks 1,765^th.

Prince Family Tree & Prince Genealogy

Prince of Canterbury
Sir Alexander William, Knight, only son of William Prince, Esquire of Canterbury, was born in 1870. In 1897, he married Edith, daughter of Isaac Jones Esq. of Edgbaston. He was educated at Dover and was Director of the Commercial Union Assurance.

Oxfordshire to Massachusetts
Adam Prince was born c. 1429 AD. He had a son named Adam as well. Adam Prince was born in Nuneham Courtney, Oxforfshire, England in 1455 AD. He married Isabella, daughter of John Hunt and Johanna Bentall, and had a son with her named John. John Prince was born in the same town c. 1480 AD. In 1499, he married Juliana, daughter of John Doddington and Elizabeth Hussey, and had issue with her as follows: Ambrose, Richard, Thomas, William, John, and Richard. His son Thomas Prince was born in Courtney, Oxfordshire, England in 1506 AD. He had a son, also named Thomas. This Thomas was born in Oxford, Berkshire, England in 1530 AD. In 1549, he married Dorothy Parsons, and had a son with her named Thomas. Thomas was born in Lechlade, Gloucestershire, England c. 1550 AD. He married Ms. Maxham and had issue with her as follows: Jean, Robert, Thomas Sr., Alice, Simon, and Alice. His son, Thomas Prence Jr., was born in Lechlade, Gloucestershire, England in 1575 AD. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Toldbery, and had issue with her as follows: Mercy, Thomas Jr., Susanna, Rebecca, and Katherine. His son, Thomas Prence or Prince Jr., was born in Lechdale England in 1600. The following is an excerpt about his life from geni.com, “During the first years of young Thomas’s life, the English suffered horrible calamities. The bubonic plague scorched across the country in 1603 and 1604, emptying whole villages. In 1606 and 1607, floods, that like of which the people had never known before, swept the coast and the waters ran to Gloucestershire and Somerset, laying waste to the lands in an unrelenting, unstoppable destruction. Young Thomas and his family survived. In 1621, during the reign of James, the first Stuart, Thomas, with many adventurous Puritans, left England. With hopes for a wonderful future, they came to America, Thomas aboard the ship Fortune, reaching Plymouth, Massachusetts in November”. Thomas was active in buying and selling land, as well as the fur trade. He married four times in Plymouth Colony. He was the 4^th Governor of Plymouth Colony. He had the father of the following issue: Rebecca, Thomas III, Hannah, Mary, Jane, Mary, Judith, Elizabeth, and Sarah. His son, Thomas III, was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He had a daughter named Susanna.

LePrince from France to Canada
Nicolas Leprince was born in France c. 1625 AD. He married Judith Hurault and had a son named Jacques. This son, Jean-Jacques Nicolas Leprince, was born in Normandie, France c. 1646. He went to Canada. In 1670, he married Marguerite, daughter of Etienne Hebert Hebert and Maria Gaudet, and had issue with her as follows: Marguerite, Anne, Francois, Antoine, and Jean. Three of his sons are discussed as follows:
1) Francois LePrince was born in Acadia, Canada c. 1680. He married Catherine Benoit and had a son with her named Antoine.
2) Antoine Leprince was born in Port Royal, Acadia, Nouvelle-France c. 1680. He married Anne Trahan and had issue with her as follows: Tranquille, Anne, Cyprien, and Oliveier
3) Jean Leprince was born in Grand Pre, Acadie, c. 1692. He married twice: Jeanna Blanchard and later Jacquemine Guerin, and had issue as follows: Marie Joseph, Honore, Jean Baptste, Pierre, and Jean.

Prinz from German to America
George Printz was promoted in October 1780 to Captain and his Commission was signed by Governor Thomas Jefferson. Part of the Virginia Militia served with the Continental Army. Captain George Printz served in the Battle of York. According to Princefamilyhistory.com: “Joseph Printz, George’s son, when erecting his tombstone, had inscribed, “Aide to General Washington”. A great grandson, John David Printz, of Stonyman, stated in a newspaper article published several years ago in the Page (Co.) News and Courier, that Capt. George Printz was present at the surrender of General Cornwallis. George was also found on a list, dated Baltimore, MD, July 29, 1778, on General Nelson’s Corps of Light Dragoons. Whether the Virginia Militia was a part of this group or not, has not been ascertained. George’s name is enscribed on a brass plate at the Valley Forge Memorial Bell Tower dedicated by the NSDAR to patriots of the Revolutionary War. He received a land grant of 80 acres on July 18, 1812 signed by President James Madison for his services in the Revolutionary War in Stark Co., Ohio and later he visited the area. However, he did not stay, probably finding the area too wild. When he returned to VA, he offered to give it to any of his sons who would live on it.” George was born in Germany in 1741. He died in Virginia in 1834. He was the son of Johann Heinrich Printz and Catherine Foltz.

Marriages of Princes
1) Jacques Leprince married Ollive Dre in Cherrueix, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France in January 1577
2) Jean Leprince married Claude Labouesiere de in Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France in 1591
3) Bertrand Leprince married Georgette Bouquet in Parame, Bretagne, France in February 1651
4) Ralph Prince married Margarett Beech in Staffordshire, England in April 1684
5) John Prince married Anne Parker in Waverton, Cheshire, England in August 1677
6) Paul Prince married Ann Gold in Staffordshire, England in 1716
7) Thomas Prince married Ellen Veale in St. Patrick’s, Waterford, Ireland in December 1849
8) Florence Prince married Angus Campbell in Fife Lake, Grand Traverse, Michigan in February 1878
9) Helen B. Prince married Henry E. Aria in Alpena, Michigan in June 1904
10) Elias H. Prince married Sophia Williamson in Scioto, Ohio in February 1831
11) Alice Prince married James Putnam in Champaign, Ohio in December 1879
12) Anthony Prince married May Bennet in Grand Rapids, Michigan in November 1912

Early American and New World Settlers
Some of the earliest settlers in colonial America bearing this name include:
1) John Prince came to Somers Island in 1619
2) Nicholas Prince came to Virginia in 1619
3) Thomas Prince came to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621
4) John Prince came to Massachusetts in 1633
5) Edward Prince came to Virginia in 1635
6) John Prince came to Watertown, Massachusetts in 1635
7) James Prince came to Virginia in 1638
8) Thomas Prince came to Virginia in 1639
9) Mary Prince, age 21, came to Boston, Massachusetts in 1656
10) Edmund Prince came to Virginia in 1640
11) Richard Prince came to Salem, Massachusetts in 1642
12) Penelope Prince came to Maryland in 1644
13) Edward Prince came to Virginia in 1646
14) Robert Prince came to Salem, Massachusetts in 1649
15) Stephen Prince came to Maryland between 1649-1662
16) Samuel Prince came to Virginia in 1661
17) Abbigail Prince came to Maryland in 1670
18) David Prince came to Maryland in 1674
19) Richard Price came to Virginia in 1683
20) Pierre Le Prince came to Louisiana in 1720
21) Martin Le Prince came to Louisiana in 1734

Several thousand members of the Prince family came to the United States through Ellis Island, during the nineteenth century, including:
1) Louis Prince came from England aboard the New York in 1841
2) James Prince came from England aboard the City of Washington in 1871
3) Adolph Prince came from Germany aboard the Anglia in 1871
4) John Prince came from Ireland aboard the Oceanic in 1871
5) Mary Prince came from England aboard the City of Washington in 1871
6) Julia Prince came from England aboard the New York in 1841
7) Arthur Prince came from Liverpool, England aboard the Caronia in 1909
8) Percival Prince came from Siguirres, Costa Rica aboard the Calamares in 1917
9) Maria Le Prince came from Panama aboard the Colon in 1911
10) H. Le Prince came from France aboard the La Bretagne in 1891
11) George A. Prince came from Leicester, England aboard the Caronia in 1907
12) Joseph Prince came from Oldham, England aboard the Eturia in 1907

Some of the earliest settlers in Canada bearing this name include:
1) Jacques Le Prince came to Quebec in 1665
2) Guillaume Prince came to Ontario in 1712
3) Anthony Prince came to Nova Scotia in 1749
4) Christopher Prince came to Annapolis, Nova Scotia in 1772
5) Ruth Prince came to Nova Scotia in 1762
6) John Prince came to Nova Scotia in 1783
7) Joe Prince came to St. John’s New Brunswick in 1815

Some of the earliest settlers in Australia bearing this name include:
1) Mary Prince, of Middlesex, England, came to New South Wales aboard the Speke in 1807
2) Isaac Prince, of Southampton, England came aboard the Recovery aboard the Recovery in 1819
3) Charles Prince, of Surrey, England came aboard the Shipley in 1820
4) James Prince, of Surrey, England came to Tasmania in 1821
5) Robert Prince, age 29, came to New South Wales aboard the Competitor in 1823
6) George Prince, of London, England, came to New South Wales aboard the Florentia in 1827
7) James Prince came to Tasmania aboard the Flying Squirrel in 1861
8) Evan Prince, of Spithead, England, age 28, came to Victoria aboard the Thomas Arbuthnot in 1847
9) Harriet Prince, age 18, came to Queensland aboard the British Empire In 1859

Some of the earliest settlers in New Zealand bearing this name include:
1) Edward and Mary Prince, both age 35, came to Port Nicholson aboard the Lady Nugent in 1841
2) Joseph Prince, of Cheshire, England, came to Canterbury aboard the Zealandia in 1858
3) Samuel Prince came to Auckland in 1863
4) Herbert Prince came to Canterbury aboard the Tintern Abbey of 1875
5) Herbert Prince, of Staffordshire, England, a carpenter by trade, came to Canterbury aboard the Tintern Abbey of 1875

Grantees of Arms
1) Richard Prince of Abbey foregate, Shrewsbury, 2 Nov 1584, by Cooke

Notables
There are hundreds of notable people with the Prince surname. This page will mention a handful. Famous people with this last name include:
1) Thomas Albert Prince (1964) was an professional baseball player from Kanakaee, Illinois who played from five different teams from 1987-2003, including the Pittsburg Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers
2) Ashwell Gavin Prince (1977) was the first non-white to captain the South African cricket team whose career spanned from 1995-2015, born in Port Elizabeth
3) Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince (1841-1890) was an French artist who invented an early motion picture camera, considered the “Father of Cinematography”, born in Metz, France
4) John Prince (1796-1870) was a gentleman farmer, lawyer, and political figures in Upper Canada and West Canada who served in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada for Essex, and served with the local militia during the Battle of Windsor during the Upper Canada Rebellion
5) Erik Dean Prince (1969) is an former US Navy SEAL officer and businessman who founded the security company Blackwater USA, born in Holland, Michigan
6) Faith Prince (1957) is an American singer and actress known for her Broadway work, who won the Tony Award for Best Actress in 1992 for her performance in Guys and Dolls, born in Augusta, Georgia
7) Louis-Nicolas Le Prince (d. 1677) was a French priest and musical composer who was the maître de chapelle at Lisieux Cathedral
8) Bevin Anne Prince (1982) is an American actress born in Cary, North Carolina who is best known for her sole on the TV show One Tree Hill
9) Owen Charles Prince III (1950) was the CEO of Citigroup, born in Lynwood, California
10) Arthur Prince (1902-1980) was an English footballer (soccer player) who played for five different teams between 1923-1931, including Port Vale and the Bristol Rovers, born in Bucknall, Staffordshire

Prince America Civil War Veterans
There were several soldiers with the last name Prince who served in the American Civil War, including the following:
1) Van D. Prince of the 5^th Regiment West Virginia Infantry (Union)
2) William F. Prince of the 8^th Regiment Kentucky Cavalry (Union)
3) James S. Prince of the 150^th Regiment Illinois Infantry (Union)
4) Benjamin Prince of the 130^th Regiment Indiana Infantry (Union)
5) Alvin C. Prince of the 15^th Regiment Connecticut Infantry (Union)
6) John E. Prince of the 80^th Regiment New York Infantry (Union)
7) Charles F. Prince of the 2^nd Regiment Massachusetts Heavy Artillery (Union)
8) Hugh N. Prince of the 8^th Regiment Tennessee Infantry (Confederate)
9) Richard W. Prince of the 36^th Regiment Georgia Infantry (Confederate)
10) Hugh M. Prince of Senn’s Company South Carolina Post Guard(Confederate)
11) Albert A. Prince of the 10^th Regiment Texas Infantry(Confederate)
12) Daniel Prince of the 1^st Regiment Louisiana Infantry (Confederate)
13) Sanford Prince of the 5^th Regiment Missouri Infantry State Guard(Confederate)
14) David A. Prince of the 7^th Battalion Mississippi Infantry (Confederate)

Prince America Revolution Veterans
There were several soldiers with the last name Prince who served in the Revolutionary War, including the following:
1) Lieutenant Daniel Prince of Rhode Island
2) Private David Prince of Connecticut
3) Gunner Nicholas Prince of South Carolina
4) Captain Silvester Prince of Massachusetts
5) Abel Prince of New Hampshire
6) Private Charles Prince of Rhode Island
7) James Prince of New Hampshire
8) Private Ludry Prince of Connecticut
9) William Prince of Pennsylvania
10) Private William Prince of New Jersey
11) Private Jethro Prince of Massachusetts
12) Private Levi Prince of Connecticut
13) Private Phillip Prince of Connecticut
14) Private Timothy Prince of Connecticut
15) Isaac Prince
16) Sergeant Kimbel or Kemble Prince of New York

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Shrewsbury and Abbey Foregate, co. Salop; granted 1584). Gu. a saltire or, surmounted of a cross engr. erm. Crest—Out of a ducal coronet or, a cubit arm habited gu. cuffed erm. holding in the hand ppr. three pine apples gold, stalked and leaved vert.
2) Le Prince – Hainaut – De gueules à la fasce d’or chargée de trois croissants du champ Cimier un croissant de l’écu (Alias Après l’adoption du nom du Chastel elle prit de gueules à la fasce d’or acc de trois maillets penchés du même sur le tout d’argent à trois lions de sable armés et lampassés de gueules couronnés d’or acc en abîme d’une tour d’azur qui est du Chastel au bleu Casque couronné Cimier un lion issant d’or Supports deux griffons d’or). Source: Riestap’s.
3) Le Prince – Paris – Ex-Libris de P.N. le Prince, greffier en chef en la Cour des Aydes en 1767 – D’azur à deux épées d’argent passées en sautoir les pointes en haut au chef cousu de gueules chargé d’une main dextre appaumée d’argent les doigts à dextre Supports deux hommes sauvages ceints de feuillage armés de leur massue. Source: Riestap’s.
4) Le Prince – Bretagne – De gueules à trois fleurs-de-lis de vair. Source: Riestap’s.
5) Le Prince – Bourgogne – De gueules à la fasce d’or ch de trois croissants du champ et acc en chef de deux maillets du second et en pointe d’une étoile aussi d’or Casque couronné Cimier un lion issant d’or couronné de gueules Tenants deux griffons d’or. Source: Riestap’s.
6) Le Prince – Bretagne – D’azur à six coquilles d’argent. Source: Riestap’s.
7) Le Prince – Le Prince de Beaufond – Maine – D’azur à huit abeilles d’or posées en orle vers une neuvième abeille du mesme plus grosse et posée en coeur Tenants deux sirènes Devise GENS SUB PRINCIPE TUTA. Source: Riestap’s.
8) Prince – Hollande – D’argent à un vaisseau à trois mâts au naturel voguant sur une mer d’azur portant sur la poupe le pavillon hollandais (tiercé en fasce de gueules d’argent et d’azur) Cimier une ancre (V de Bruyn-Prince). Source: Riestap’s.
9) Prince – Neufchâtel – De gueules à une arbalète d’or accostée de deux étoiles (5) d’argent et surmontant un tertre de trois coupeaux du second. Source: Riestap’s.
10) Prince – Grande-Bretagne – (Nichols) – De gueules au sautoir d’or à la croix engrelée d’hermine brochant sur le tout. Source: Riestap’s.
11) Prince – Prince dit La Hire – Neufchâtel – D’azur à un fermail carré d’or sans ardillon brochant sur une épée en pal d’argent garnie du second. Source: Riestap’s.
12) Le Prince – Tours – Julien Prince Marchant, ???, Cure de ??, Dame de Beaupreau. Source: d’Hozier.
13) Le Prince – Normandie – Jacque de Prince Sr. de Lieubriere Con ?? Du Roi, Verificateur des Deffauts au Bailliage de Domfront. Source: d’Hozier.
14) Le Prince – Flander – Iosse Alexander le Prince, dit du Chatel, Chlr. Sgr. De Courceelette. Source: d’Hozier.
15) Le Prince – Normandie – Henry le Prince, ??, a Bellesme. Source: d’Hozier.
16) Le Prince – Normandie – Raoult le Prince, Con. Du Roi, Vicomte de St. Lo. Source: d’Hozier.
17) Le Prince – Normandie – Francoise le Prince, V. de Guillaume Viel, Ec.. Source: d’Hozier.
18) Le Prince – Normandie – Louis le Prince, Elu(??) a Vernon. Source: d’Hozier.
19) Le Prince – Paris – Charlote le Prince de la Bretonniere, v. e d’Antoine de Ricouart. Source: d’Hozier.
20) Le Prince – Paris – Denis Louis le Prince dela Leverye & Paris – Marie Marguerritte le Prince sa feme. Source: d’Hozier.