Surname Procter - Meaning and Origin

Procter: What does the surname Procter mean?

The last name Procter is of English and Scottish origin and is thought to have derived from the Middle English word 'proctor', which is an agent or person authorized to act on another's behalf, usually of a legal or academic nature. This term originates from the Latin word 'procurator' which means supervisor or manager.

Procter is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who lived at or near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree; the word itself often stems from the Old English pre 7th Century 'croph', a top.

In Ireland, the name Procter is derived from the name Proctor, which may have originated as an occupational nickname for a president, steward, or proctor and later became the established surname Procter. Examples of spelling variations of Procter include Proctor, Procter, Procotor, Provctr, Procktor, and Provktr.

Procter is most common in the United Kingdom, especially in the Yorkshire, Lancashire, and North East of England regions. It is also found in Ireland, especially in the Wicklow and Dublin areas. It is believed to be of Huguenot origin with many families of this name recorded in England in the 16th and 17th centuries. This was due to the persecution they experienced in France, which led to them fleeing to Britain.

The name also appears in other places and has several derivatives, including Procter, Prockter, Prokschter, Prokschetone and Prockt. The surname Procter is in particular associated with Essex, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and the North Midlands regions.

In summary, the surname Procter is of English and Scottish origin. Historically, it was an occupational name used to describe a person who acted on another's behalf, and is associated with the British Isles as well as Huguenot immigration. It has many spelling variations and derivatives.

Procter: Where does the name Procter come from?

The last name Procter is most commonly found today in England, the United States, and Australia. It is considered to be of British origin and is derived from the Olde English word 'priest', which is a term for a Roman Catholic or Anglican clergyman or a title of honor given to certain officials in the Royal Household. In England, Procter is a name mainly associated with the English Midlands and the Northwest and is found at a higher concentration in Lancashire. The earliest recorded use of the Procter surname dates back to 1209, when Hugh Procter held the post of Keeper of Ecclesiastical Records for the Bishop of Hereford.

In the United States, the Procter name was brought to America by European immigrants in the 1600s. It is most likely to be found in the Eastern and Midwestern states, specifically states with large populations such as; Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Illinois.

In Australia, the Procter surname is most likely to be found on the East Coast, specifically in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. It is also increasingly common in Western Australia, where some Procters descended from European settlers of the mid-1800s.

Overall, the Procter surname is still a common name in many countries around the world today. Its origin as a clergyman's title has survived the many changes over the centuries and gained generations of new bearers of the name.

Variations of the surname Procter

The surname Procter is believed to be of early medieval origin and is derived from the Old English pre 7th century word "proct", which referred to a farmer who owned a smallholding. Variant spellings of the surname Procter and Proctor include Procter, Proceter, Procter, Prockter, Proefer, Proffitt and Procotor.

The surname Proctor can also be found in several other languages. In Dutch, it is spelled Procter, in German, Schwarzer, and in Scandinavian languages, it is written as Procter. In Welsh, the spelling is Prycydd or Prochedd. In Hebrew, it is spelled פרוקט and in Greek it is spelled Προκτέρα.

The surname Procter is also found as the Anglicanized form of other surnames of the same origin including Pruet, Pret, Prostor, Prelled, Preller, Prester, Preston, Preuston and Pruston.

In the United States, many descendants of theProcter family have changed the spelling of their surname to Proctor. Other Americanized spellings include Procktor, Procter, Proketo, Proactors, Proctors, Prokters, Procetors, Procters, Proctersons, Proketors and Proketts.

The Procter name is also found in Ireland, where variants like Procadoir, Proactoir, Proctur, Procktur, Proctour, Protor, Protour, Preacter and Proketur can be found.

In Scotland, variant spellings of Procter include Prockter, Procketor, Proctor, Procter, Prockter, Precter, Procktor and Prektur.

Famous people with the name Procter

• Samuel Procter: English former professional footballer who most notably played for clubs such as Swansea City and Aston Villa.
• John Procter: American politician who represented North Carolina's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1817 to 1819.
• William Procter: English cricketer who played in three first-class matches for Surrey.
• Lysander Procter: United States Navy paymaster's clerk who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his brave service during the Spanish-American War.
• Samuel Procter: British biologist and writer who was an important member of the Oxford Darwinian school of evolutionary thought.
• Sarah Procter: British former Paralympic swimmer who competed in backstroke events at the 1988 and 1992 Paralympics.
• John Procter: English Member of Parliament from 1618 to 1620 and again from 1623 to 1625.
• John Procter: English High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1650.
• Tom Procter: British Formula Renault and Formula Ford racing driver.
• Ernest G. Procter: British cinematographer who worked on various movies such as Lawrence of Arabia and the original Star Wars trilogy.

Other surnames

Proctor