Surname Prior - Meaning and Origin
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A Personal Revelation: My Journey through iGENEA DNA testing and the Meaning of Being a Prior
The iGENEA DNA test's reflective exploration has bestowed upon me an altered perspective on my personal identity and heritage, particularly about my surname - Prior. My DNA connecting me to eras and lineages was a reality check - grounding and humbling, leaving me with a stronger and richer sense of self.
C. Prior
read morePrior: What does the surname Prior mean?
The last name Prior is of English and Irish origin. In England, the surname was traditionally given to someone who worked as a prior, or leader of a monastery, deriving from the Old English word "prior" which means "superior". It was typically used as an occupational surname for someone who worked in a religious position.
In Ireland, the last name Prior is an anglicised version of the Gaelic "Mac an Phríora", meaning "son of the prior". Here, it carries the same connotation of a person who held a position of leadership in a monastery.
So in both the cases, it is an occupational surname predominantly associated with religious roles in the medieval times. Over time, the name was passed down through generations and became used as a family name rather than denoting a person's occupation.
Order DNA origin analysisPrior: Where does the name Prior come from?
The surname Prior is a toponymic surname, which means it is derived from a place name. It has multiple origins and is spread throughout the world today.
The name Prior is believed to have originated in England and Scotland in the Middle Ages. It is a derivative from the English word for 'priory', a place of residence for those who took religious vows. It was also a title of respect, given to those of a higher rank in a religious or secular organisation. The surname is recorded in English records since the 12th century.
It is also a variation of the German and Swiss word 'Prieur', which is a contraction of the words 'preu' and 'herr', meaning 'honourable man' or 'lord'. This surname is also found throughout Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.
The surname Prior has a large presence in the United States today. According to the US Census in 1990, it was the 115th most common surname in the country. It is particularly prominent in the central and eastern parts of the country, with the highest number of people with the surname Prior living in New York.
The surname Prior is also fairly common in Australia, with nearly one thousand people recorded running a search in 2019. It is mainly found in the states of Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales. The name is also common in South Africa, with more than five thousand people having the surname.
Overall, the surname Prior is a common name found throughout the world, especially in English-speaking countries, as well as in Germany and Belgium. The highest numbers are found in the United States, Australia, and South Africa.
Variations of the surname Prior
The surname Prior is an occupational name of Old French and Latin origin, derived from the word ‘praeses’ which means one in authority. It was first used to describe a head of a monastery or a supervisor of a religious order. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Pryer, Pryers, Pryor, Pryor, Prers, Prere, Prevost and Praeceptor.
Pryer has been used interchangeably with Prior and is derived from the Middle English word ‘preiere’, which described someone who had the same authority and duty as a priest. It is an occupational name often found in many historical records.
Pryors was used during the medieval period to describe a person who was a teacher of literature or a spiritual director. It is also an occupational name, and variations in spelling have been recorded as Prewer, Pryor and Pryar.
Prevost is a French variation of Prior which was found around the 15th century. It is a combination of two words, 'pre' meaning prior and 'vester' meaning bishop. The spelling variations Prevot and Prevos are also found.
Prers is an occupational name derived from the Old French word 'pressec' which described a senior monk.
Prere is derived from the French word 'presbyter' which means a priest.
The Latin form of Prior is Praeceptor, which originates from the old Latin 'praecept' which means 'teacher'. This occupational name was found in medieval records in the forms Praecep, Preapp, Praejector and Praejectus.
Overall, Prior is a surname of multiple origins and variations, with multiple variations in spelling as well as related surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Prior
- Tom Prior: Tom is a British actor best known for his roles in movies such as The Riot Club, Mr. Turner and Wrath of the Titans.
- Ryan Prior: Ryan is an American journalist, podcaster and author who has worked as a health and science producer for CNN.
- Heidi Prior: Heidi is an Australian Olympic skier who competed in the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
- Julian Prior: Julian is a British actor who starred in series such as Father Brown and Outlander.
- Louis Prior: Louis is a British actor who has starred in the series Downton Abbey and The Crown.
- Jimmy Prior: Jimmy is a former English professional footballer who played in several teams such as Everton, Oldham Athletic and Wigan Athletic. 7.Conor Prior: Conor is a British professional footballer who has made appearances in the English Premier League and La Liga. 8.Scott Prior: Scott is a former American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association for teams such as the New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. 9.Linkson Prior: Linkson is a Dutch professional footballer currently playing for the Dutch club FC Utrecht.
- Rochelle Prior: Rochelle is an American actress best known for her roles in the television series Mission Hill and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.