Prettyman Name Study

Date: 12 Dec 2023 [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Prettyman Pretyman Prittyman

About the Project

The Prettyman Name Study project serves as a collaborative platform to collect information on the Prettyman name. The hope is that other researchers like you will join the study to help make it a valuable reference point for other genealogists who are researching or have an interest in the Prettyman name.

As a One Name Study, this project is not limited to persons who are related biologically. Individual studies can be used to branch out the research into specific methods and areas of interest, such as geographically (England Prettymans), by period (18th Century Prettymans), or by topic (Prettyman DNA, Prettyman Occupations, Prettyman Statistics). These studies may also include many family branches that have no immediate link with each other. Some researchers may even be motivated to go beyond the profile identification and research stage to compile fully sourced, single-family histories of some of the families they discover through this name study project.

Also see the related surnames and surname variants.

How to Join

Please post an introduction in the comments below and add your WikiTree ID on the List of Project Members, and then dive right in!. When you join as a project member, feel free to add the project member sticker to your profile as follows: {{Member|ONS|name=Prettyman}}. The sticker will display as:

For any questions, contact the Study Coordinator: Michael Black for assistance. Thanks!

Resources

• List of Prettymans on Wikitree

• G2G feed of questions tagged "Prettyman".

• Orphaned Prettyman profiles on WikiTree.

• Unsourced Prettyman profiles on WikiTree.

• Unconnected Prettyman profiles on WikiTree.

• British Surnames: Prettyman

• Internet Surname Dababase: Prettyman

Origins of the Name

The following information regarding the origins of the Prettyman name was taken directly from The Prettyman Family in England and America by Reverend Edgar Cannon Prettyman.

The name Prettyman has intrigued many people and several have attempted to give its origin and its meaning. The earliest appearance of the name was in Bacton, Suffolk County, England in 1361 stated that John Pratyman owned land there.

Ferguson in his book "Teutonic Names" states the name probably is derived from "Brito" or "Le Brita:" brito to break or Brita a ruler. Often the German "B" at the beginning of a name when changed to English becomes a "P". Hence, he reasoned, Prette or Preto, with the suffix man became Preteman.

Another writer asserts the name probably is derived from the French, "Belle Hommes", meaning Prettyman.

Another author, Nuttal, gives an Anglo-Saxon theory that the name is derived from "Praete", meaning ornate or from "Praetig," meaning clever. That which all these writers have missed is that the oldest spelling of the name is Pratyman.

Perhaps the best theory and probably the true one is advanced by the late William Pretyman, who until his death, was the family historian in England. In his book "Pretyman of Bacton, Suffolk," he takes the ground that the name has no connection with the accepted meaning of the word "Pretty", but that its root is in the Latin word "Pratium" meaning meadow. In a most scholarly article of some length he gives historical data for his belief. Briefly he says: "That in the earliest records the spelling of the name was Pratyman. The last member of the family who wrote his name thus was William Pratyman, of Bacton, lord of that manor, who died in 1594, since then the family have written their name" Pretyman," dropping the "a" for the "e," in accordance with the custom." Many English families made that change in honor of Queen Elizabeth. He contends that "from the earliest records to the present time in England, the name has been spelled with but one "t" and never two, except when incorrectly written." He mentions a certain Henry Atta Mede (Meadow), who died in 1272, in the body of two deeds writes his name as Henry Atta Mede, but his seal to one of the deeds bears the legend: "Sig: Henrici de Pratis", the Latinized form of his name. He gives numerous Latinized illustrations of the Latin form of family names being used in many countries.

The author of the book, "The Norman People", states that the name is from the Norman "de Pratis" which later changed to "Praty." This theory was accepted by Mr. Pretyman, the historian. In 1159 there was a William de Pratis, living in Suffolk County, and a Jordan de Pratis at an even earlier date—the county where John Pratyman lived in 1361. In 1397 in that same county, we find Thomas Praty, Simon de Pratis and William Pratyman and his two sons, Stephen and William.

In the nearby county of Essex there was a Bishop Praty (1430-46). In 1540-48 there was a Rector by the name of Rev. William Praty, sometimes spelled "Pratye."

He proves from records that in early times in Suffolk county the suffix "man" to family names was very rare, but by 1340 family names ending thus were numerous.

There came a time in England when some families began to change their names by adding prefixes or suffixes. Two of these were "er" and "man". If the householder dwelt in a meadow he might be Robert Feild or Robert Feildman. Other examples were Chucher and Churchman, Bridger and Bridgeman.

It is a natural conclusion that some branches of the family of Praty added the suffix "man," becoming Pratyman, while others did not do so, preferring to remain Praty.

Related Surnames and Surname Variants

• Pretyman
• Prittyman
• Preteman
• Priteman
• Prityman
• Pratyman

How You Can Help

1. Add the Category to Profiles

As a project member, please add the Prettyman Name Study category to each profile which is a Prettyman or any of the variants of Prettyman by adding the following to those profiles: [[Category:Prettyman Name Study]]

Do not place the category on the spouse of a Prettyman, but do place it on the children of Prettyman who are born with that name or any of its variants.

Also place the category for where the person is born as follows: [[Category:State, Prettyman Name Study]] See the list of place sub-categories below. If you need help adding a place category, contact the profile manager.

The One Name Study template is reserved for profiles of the Emigrant Settlers who came from Europe to the New World as described in #2.

2. European Emigrant Ancestors

Please add the template for the Prettyman One Name Study to profiles for each emigrant/settler arriving in the New World from Europe, above the Biography heading as follows: {{One Name Study|name=Prettyman}}.

Their name should also be added to the Subsection "Emigrant/Settler Ancestors" with their dates and places of birth and death. A family group will then be created. Please send the profile manager a message requesting that a family group be created. Then the family group sub-category can be added to each descendant of the Emigrant.

3. African-American / Black Prettyman Profiles

Document and connect African-American / Black Prettyman families in the United States using US Black Heritage Project standards.

4. Improve Profiles

Improve Prettyman profiles by fleshing out their biographies and adding sources with online links when possible.

5. Prettyman Cemeteries

Add Prettyman cemeteries to the sub-category on the Category:Prettyman page.

6. Cemeteries on Prettyman Profiles

Add a category to all Prettyman profiles for the cemeteries that they are buried in. These will then be listed in the Cemetery Project for further linking.

7. Online Prettyman History

Create a list of links to online research articles regarding Prettyman history and genealogy to enhance our knowledge and ability to make connections.

8. Prettyman DNA

Discover and document any DNA relationships in and between Prettyman families.

9. Prettyman Adoptions

Document and connect any adoptions in the Prettyman families.

Please contact the project leader if you'd like any assistance setting up new linked pages, etc!

Emigrant/Settler Ancestors

• John Prettyman (abt.1609-1688): Emigrated to the New World at some point before February 1638/39

List of Project Members

• Michael Black
• Add your name here