Surname Pry - Meaning and Origin
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Pry: What does the surname Pry mean?
The surname Pry is a commonly found surname primarily in Wales and England. There are various theories as to the origins of the name, such as from the Old French ‘pris’ meaning ‘seized thing’ or ‘captured property’, indicating a family who once held a feudal title; or from the old English ‘pry’ meaning ‘steep hill’ and that the Pry family could have once lived on a steep hill.
The name could also have derived from the old English ‘prysuit’, meaning ‘pursuit’, and was given to those of bold disposition who dared to pursue their ambitions and goals.
The Pry family may have also derived from the Welsh ‘ap Rhys’ meaning ‘son of Rhys’. Rhys was a popular Welsh form of the Earl of Richmond, and the Pry family could have descended from one of his sons.
In the 17th century, Pry family members often served as ship owners, merchants and captains, as well as masons. Many Pry family members also served in the British military, and some members explored North America and were among the earliest settlers.
Today, the Pry surname is still common in England, Wales and various parts of Australia. It’s still a proud symbol of a family’s success and ambition and is often used as a reminder of their heroic ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisPry: Where does the name Pry come from?
The last name Pry is most commonly found in North America, particularly in the United States.
In terms of individual states, the states with the highest concentrations of the last name Pry are Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington. In terms of population, Pennsylvania has the highest concentration of Pry surnames with a total of around 4,000. Texas has the second highest total of Pry surnames with approximately 3,000 individuals.
In terms of major cities, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has the largest number of Pry surnames with close to 1,500 individuals claiming it. Dallas, Texas has the second highest number of Pry surnames with approximately 1,000 individuals.
The last name Pry has remained largely unchanged since the late 1600s. This is primarily due to the fact that the Pry family hails from the British Isles, where surnames were often singular and passed down from father to son. As such, the Pry surname has gone largely unchanged since it first appeared in America.
The Pry surname is of English and Welsh origin. It is derived from the Welsh patronymic surnames, “ap Rhy” or “ap Pry”, which both mean “son of Pry”. The original Welsh form of the name was probably “Prydd” or “Prid”, both meaning “son of a wild boar”. The Pry surname is thought to have been first introduced to America in the late 17th century and has since spread throughout North America.
Variations of the surname Pry
The surname Pry is of degraded Latin origin and is a derivative of the surname Pre, which was acquired from prepositus which is an occupational name. Prepositus is a Latin word and translated into English, it means Prefect or Overseer.
Variants of Pry include Priest, Preist, Preistly, Prye, Pre and Prees. Spellings of Pry include Prie, Pree and Prey.
Derived surnames that are of the same origin include Pryce, Preece, Price, Priestly, Press and Pressey.
Pryce is an anglicized version of the Welsh surname Ap Rhys, which means “son of Rhys”. This was a popular name among Welshmen and would have been acquired through occupation.
Preece is derived from the Welsh word ap Rhisiart which translates to ‘son of Rhys’ and is also an anglicized version of Ap Rhys. It is also an occupational name with Welsh origins.
Price is an anglicized version of French Preez or Prise, derived from the ancient word prepositus which translates to Prefect or Overseer.
Priestly is derived from a distinct northern English form of Pry and was used as a nickname given to people with the surname Pry. It is also an occupational name.
Press is an interesting surname with various possible origins. It has been suggested that Press is derived from the French word Presser or the German Prescien. It is also an occupational name.
Pressey is an anglicized version of the French surname Priesse or le Preze. It was originally an occupational name.
Famous people with the name Pry
- Robert Pry: American former college basketball coach
- Gregory Pry: American artist based in New Jersey
- Alan Pry: English former rugby league footballer
- John Pry: American businessman and the former President and CEO of Emerson Electric
- Nikki Pry: British film and television actress
- Michael Pry: American actor and producer
- Paul Pry: British film actor
- Julian Pry: American music composer
- Lindsay Pry: British former competitive figure skater
- Ray Pry: American musician and record producer
- Craig and Neil Pry: British television presenters
- Bill Pry: American dentist and former baseball pitcher
- Siobhan Pry: American set decorator and film producer
- Huw Pry: Welsh solicitor and Labour and Co-operative politician
- Kevin Pry: American politician and composer