Surname Pryer - Meaning and Origin

Pryer: What does the surname Pryer mean?

The surname Pryer is of English origin and has two possible meanings. One interpretation suggests it was an occupational name for a devout, religious man, derived from the Old French word "priour" or "priur," translating to prior or prayer. It may have been used to identify someone who held this position in a monastery or someone who was considered prayerful or pious in their community.

Alternatively, Pryer may be a topographic name for someone who lived near a pear tree. In this context, it evolved from the Old English term "pirige," denoting a pear tree. Over time, regional pronunciation and recordkeeping discrepancies may have resulted in the modern spelling, "Pryer."

Like many surnames, its exact meaning could depend on individual family histories and etymology.

Pryer: Where does the name Pryer come from?

The last name Pryer is primarily found in the United States, especially in the south and mid-west. It is also quite common in the United Kingdom, particularly in England.

In the United States, the last name Pryer is found heavily concentrated in the states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Examples include communities with high concentrations of those with the Pryer surname in Tipton and Madison Counties, Tennessee as well as Graves, McCracken, and Ballard Counties, Kentucky.

In the United Kingdom, Pryer is fairly common in England but much less so in Scotland and Wales. High concentrations of Pryer's are found in Hampshire County in the south east region of England. The surname appears much less commonly throughout the rest of the United Kingdom, and especially in Northern Ireland.

Overall, the last name Pryer is quite common today, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom. It is especially of interest to those researching their genetic ancestry of those two regions.

Variations of the surname Pryer

The surname Pryer has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of the most common variants are Prier, Preyer, Pryer, and Pryor. A variant of the name is Prayer, which is a variant spelling of Preyer. The variants common in Ireland are Prichard and Prickett.

In some cases, the spelling of the surname has been altered over time. For example, Pryer used to be spelled Pirier, Preyer was once spelled Brier, and Prichard used to be spelled Prichardson.

In England, the variant spellings Prichard, Pryce, Pryor, and Preyers can be found. The name is also found in Scotland and Wales as Pryer, Prichard, Pyer, and Preyers.

The surname Pryer is derived from the name of a person that had authority, such as a judge or an owner of a manor. The surname is derived from the Old French word ‘pre’, meaning chief or head.

In Germany, the variant spelling Pries is found, which is derived from the German word ‘priester’, meaning priest. In some cases, the surname has also been Anglicized to the spelling of Priest.

The surname Pryer is also found in the United States, where it has been Americanized to the spelling of Pray. In some cases, the name has been anglicized to the spelling of Pray.

In summary, Pryer is the original spelling of the surname and has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Common variants are Prier, Preyer, Pryer, and Pryor. Variants in Ireland include Prichard and Prickett, and in England, the variant spellings Prichard, Pryce, Pryor, and Preyers can be found. The name is also found in the United States, where it has been Americanized to the spelling of Pray.

Famous people with the name Pryer

• Madeleine Pryer: Madeleine is an Australian TV personality and former model.
• Foster Pryer: Foster is an American professional mixed martial artist.
• Nate Pryer: Nate is an actor and musician from Ohio.
• Jim Pryer: Jim is an American songwriter and producer.
• Marty Pryer: Marty is an American-born, British-based singer-songwriter.
• Sherri Pryer: Sherri is an American beauty queen and pageant titleholder who won Miss Wisconsin 1999.
• Gillian Pryer: Gillian is a Canadian playwright, stage director, and actress.
• Dax Pryer: Dax is an American animator and artist, best known for her work on the animated series Adventure Time.
• Mark Pryer: Mark is an English actor, comedian and broadcaster.
• Marissa Pryer: Marissa is an American author and journalist.

Other surnames

Prye