Surname Prigmore - Meaning and Origin
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Prigmore: What does the surname Prigmore mean?
The last name Prigmore is of English origin and is an occupational name. People with the last name Prigmore were associated with the occupation of milling corn. The word Prigmore likely derived from the Old English words perr, meaning pear, and more, meaning pond or marsh. This suggests that people with the name likely had their livelihoods connected to marshlands near corn mills.
In medieval English, the suffix -more indicated a large number of something. This prefix was commonly appended to village names and, in some cases, to personal names such as Prigmore. Thus, a person with the last name Prigmore was likely connected to a larger business located near a pond or marshland.
One noteworthy variant of the name is Prygmore, which is found primarily in Devon. This suggests that the people with this surname originally came from a village near Dartmoor, where the combination of hilly terrain and rivers provided an ideal terrain for numerous corn mills.
Today, the last name Prigmore is found more often in North America than in its native England. It is likely that the name was brought to the new world during the great wave of immigration during the 19th and 20th centuries. The name is still associated with longtime millers, farmers, and other land laborers.
Order DNA origin analysisPrigmore: Where does the name Prigmore come from?
The last name Prigmore is Unfortunately, the name Prigmore currently isn't particularly common, even in countries with high concentrations of people with English ancestry. It can be found in small numbers around the English-speaking world, though.
In England, fewer than 200 people in the entire country currently carry the name Prigmore, making it quite rare even there. It appears chiefly in the Midlands and South Central regions, though a few Prigmore’s can also be found in the North West and the South West.
In the United States, the name Prigmore is even more scarce. The 2000 census recorded only 81 Prigmore families living in the states. Most were concentrated in the Midwest, including Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana. A few lived in the South, especially the states of Tennessee and Georgia, and one was recorded in Arizona.
In Canada, the numbers were even smaller: only four Prigmore families were remembered in the last census there. These were spread throughout the provinces, from British Columbia to Newfoundland.
Given its rarity, anyone bearing the name Prigmore can be quite proud of their ancestral roots!
Variations of the surname Prigmore
Prigmore is an uncommon English surname with no known variants. It is a topographic or locational surname, derived from the Old English pre 7th century term ‘prig’ which means ‘thorn’ or ‘bramble’ and ‘mor’ which means ‘moor’. Together, these elements formed a descriptive term for a ‘place of brambles or thorns on a moor’, hence it would have originally denoted somebody who lived in such a place. Records indicate that Prigmore is a relatively modern surname, first appearing in the latter part of the 19th century, suggesting that it could be a result of population movement during the Industrial Revolution.
In terms of alternate spellings, Prigmore could conceivably be spelled as Pregmore, although this variant does not appear in any records. Other related surnames include Prigg, Pringle and Primm. These surnames are derived either from a nickname, such as ‘Prigg’ for a mischievous person, or they could be derived from a toponym such as ‘Pringle’ meaning ‘son of Pring’, which could be a derivative of ‘Prang’, an old term describing a low-growing shrub. These surnames are also potentially related to Prigmore in that they all depict a similar locale.
Famous people with the name Prigmore
- John Prigmore: TV and film actor best known for his role in the film Flatliners as Frank Killerman.
- Leonard Prigmore: Professional Rugby Union player who represented England.
- Harry Prigmore: Writer and producer whose credits include House of Cards and The Good Wife.
- James Prigmore: Actor and comedian who has appeared in several films and television series.
- Simon Prigmore: Professional golfer and coach who has competed on the European Tour.
- Frederick Prigmore: Quaker minister and abolitionist who wrote several books advocating for the abolishment of slavery.
- Emma Prigmore: Singer and songwriter best known for her work with the all-female punk band ViceGrip.
- William Prigmore: American politician who represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate from 1887-93.
- Cecilia Prigmore: Renowned Australian opera singer and teacher who had a long and distinguished career in the field.
- Tom Prigmore: Award-winning venture capitalist and founder of several start-ups.