Surname Pritchett - Meaning and Origin
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Unexpected Scandinavian Roots and Diverse Ancestry: A Pritchett's iGENEA DNA Test Revelations
My iGENEA DNA test's recent results were nothing short of profound. Far from my basic understanding, it revealed my surname, 'Pritchett', possessing deep Scandinavian roots besides having minor traces of Eastern European and Mediterranean ties.
Q. Pritchett
read morePritchett: What does the surname Pritchett mean?
The surname Pritchett is of Welsh origin, derived from the diminutive form of the Welsh personal name Richard, "Rhys". The Welsh "ap Richard" which means "son of Richard" eventually became anglicized into Pritchard and further variations such as Pritchett. The name Richard itself signifies "powerful ruler", comprising of the elements "ric", meaning power, and "hard", meaning hardy or brave. Therefore, the surname Pritchett indirectly carries connotations of being descended from a powerful or brave ruler. Like many surnames, Pritchett would originally have been used to denote lineage, before becoming a fixed family name. Over time, different branches of the family and different regions have adopted slightly different versions of the name, resulting in variations such as Prickett, Prichard, and Pricket. As a Welsh name, it is most common in regions of English-speaking countries where there has been significant Welsh immigration, such as the United States and Canada.
Order DNA origin analysisPritchett: Where does the name Pritchett come from?
The last name Pritchett is most commonly associated with those living in the United Kingdom. Statistics from the Family Search Organization shows the highest population bearing the Pritchett surname is in England with about 117,100 individuals. It is also found in small numbers throughout Wales and Scotland.
The name is also found worldwide with the largest numbers in North and South America. In the United States, the last name Pritchett is moderately distributed depending on each individual’s family history. According to the United States Census Bureau, about 17,000 individual carry the Pritchett name with the highest numbers in Texas, California, and Florida.
In Canada the name is found amongst approximately 2,314 individuals. There is also a noticeable presence in Australia with about 1,446 individuals. Other countries with smaller numbers of individuals include The Dominican Republic, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, Mexico, India, South Africa, Ireland, and Peru.
Immigration is likely the cause for the flux in geographic distribution of the Pritchett name, as individuals with the name have relocated to different countries at different points in time. With the advent of the Internet, individuals with the Pritchett name are easily able to find one another and reconnect regardless of geography.
Variations of the surname Pritchett
The surname Pritchett is an English name that is derived from the Old English phrase prīcet (slope). It has a range of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Common variants of Pritchett include Pritchard, Pritchett, Pricet, Prizet, Pritt, Pritz and Priester.
The spelling Pritchett is thought to be derived from the English name Pritchard, which is an altered spelling of the Old French personal name Pruiz (Bullock). This name is derived from the Latin word pullus, meaning young animal.
The Pritchard spelling is also believed to come from the Old English word prīcett, meaning a steep slope, which is related to preohson (hound). This would give the Pritchard surname the meaning of living on a hound’s (or fox’s) den.
In Scotland, the common variant of Pritchett is Pritt. The name is thought to have evolved from a habitational name, with the root word prīcett. This would make the origin of the name Pritt the same as the Pritchard and Pritchett surnames.
Variations of the surname Pritchett also exist in other countries, notably in Germany. In Germany, the name is spelled Pries, Pris and Preiss, and may have originated from a surname that was bestowed to someone who was a priest.
The common variants and spellings of Pritchett can be found in many other countries around the world, including the United States and Canada. These variants have become part of the many family trees included in the Pritchett lineage.
Famous people with the name Pritchett
- Cameron Pritchett: an Australian goalkeeper known for his leadership and ability to read the game, Pritchett started his competitive career at the Adelaide Blue Eagles.
- Jay Pritchett: a character from the TV show Modern Family played by actor Ed O'Neill.
- Michael Pritchett: an American film and television actor, Pritchett has appeared in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Law & Order, The Orville, and NCIS: Los Angeles.
- Damon Pritchett: an independent American musician and producer best known for his work with artists such as Prince, Janet Jackson, and Kelly Price.
- Jeff Pritchett: an American comedy writer, Pritchett has written for shows such as The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
- Mali Pritchett: an English actress and model, Pritchett is best known for her roles in films such as The Age of Adaline, Brooklyn, and Beauty and the Beast.
- Mackenzie Pritchett: an American singer and songwriter, she released her debut album, Letting Go, in 2017.
- David Pritchett: a British actor, Pritchett is best known for his roles in films such as The Last Kingdom and Robin Hood.
- Harold Pritchett: an author and comic book creator, Pritchett is the creator of the Star Blazers manga series.
- Carla Pritchett: an American artist, Pritchett is best known for her large-scale collages and installations.