Surname Prugh - Meaning and Origin
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Prugh: What does the surname Prugh mean?
The last name Prugh is of English origin. The name is derived from the words "prud" and "haugh," a Medieval English expression meaning "proud meadow." The name Prugh is believed to have been brought to England from France during the Norman Conquest in 1066.
It is thought that the Prugh surname first became established in the southwestern part of England, probably in Devon or Cornwall. The family is believed to have held a position of great status in their towns and villages in the first centuries after the Conquest.
The Prughs of the Middle Ages were likely landowners and possibly looked after the local area for their respective lords. Many members of the Prugh family eventually emigrated to the United States and Canada in the mid-19th century.
Today, the Prugh surname is still prevalent. It is most common in the states of Ohio, California, Illinois and Michigan in the U.S. and in Quebec and Ontario in Canada. There are about 2,000 Prughs listed in the white pages of the United States alone.
The last name Prugh is an ancient surname that has remained strong for centuries. It carries with it a rich history and a proud legacy of those that bear the name.
Order DNA origin analysisPrugh: Where does the name Prugh come from?
The last name Prugh is most commonly associated with the United States and Canada. Specifically, it is most popular in the midwest region of the United States. Specifically, Prugh appears to be concentrated in the states of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. According to World Names Profiler, the surname Prugh is most common among Caucasians and the top states of residence are Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia.
The surname Prugh is thought to be derived from the medical terms such as pruritus (itchy skin) and prurigo (skin rash). Therefore, it is believed that Prughs are of medical origin and likely hail from German immigrants who settled in the Midwest in the late 17th and 18th centuries. The Prugh surname has become more common in the 20th and 21st centuries as its members moved and intermixed with populations in other states and countries.
Interestingly, Prugh is very uncommon outside of the United States. It is particularly rare in Europe, where it has been found in very small concentrations in Germany and Slovakia. There are some locations around the world where Prugh is more commonly found, such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The surname Prugh appears to be specific to the US and Canadian regions, suggesting that its holders are descendants of US and Canadian settlers who adopted the name or brought it with them from their original homeland.
Variations of the surname Prugh
The surname Prugh is of Germanic origin, and is a spelling variant of the German surnames Pruegge and Pruge, and Prugh or Prug. Pruegge and Pruge are derived from the Middle High German word prucge, meaning 'fence post'. This surname likely originated as a occupational name for someone who worked as a carpenter or builder of fences. Prugh and Prug are derived from the Middle High German word prueche, meaning 'juniper'. This may have been an occupational name for someone who gathered juniper branches.
Variants of Prugh and Prug include Prugg, Prugar, Prigge, Pruegger, Pruge, Prugger, Pruggen, Prueg, Pruegge, Prugh, and Pruegs. Spellings of Prugh or Prug, can also include Pruh, Prueh, Porig, Poriggs, Porigh, prevailing in some regions of the United States, particularly those with a large population of German and Dutch immigrants.
Surnames of similar origins include Prughheimer, Prughorn, Prughorner, Prugner, Prunner, and Prougher. In some instances, Prugh has been altered to Pruitt due to Americanised pronunciations, or used as a variation of the common Jewish surname of Pruzan. The surname Prugh can also be found in Slovakia, Hungary, and Russia, although different spellings are used here. Variants of the original surname in these regions are Progosh, Pruh, Pruz, Prus, Prusz, Pruszh, Pruzhanov, Prusanov, Progunov, and Progozh. The spelling of Prugh has also been dominated by Irish immigrants in Australia, who have adapted the surname to Pruga.
Famous people with the name Prugh
- Thomas T. Prugh: American Hollywood Movie producer, executive and manager.
- William Prugh: American actor, voice actor and singer.
- Dean Prugh: American Major League baseball player.
- Dean E. Prugh: Honorary Commander in the Air Force in the United States.
- David Prugh: American neurosurgeon.
- Marjorie Prugh: American columnist and writer.
- Daphne Prugh: American pastor and author.
- Elizabeth Prugh: American author and activist.
- Peter Prugh: American politicial.
- Richard J. Prugh: World War II Army Air Force veteran and author.