Show ContentsPrebble History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Prebble

What does the name Prebble mean?

The name Prebble may or may not predate the Norman invasion of Britain in 1066. It has been suggested that this name is derived from the name of a French town of Preville.

Early Origins of the Prebble family

The surname Prebble was first found in Kent; however early records of the name are scarce. Although they are probably not related, it is interesting to note that there is a record of a John Pridel in 1320 in the "Petre Documents."

Early History of the Prebble family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prebble research. Another 62 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1585 and 1641 are included under the topic Early Prebble History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prebble Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Prebble, Prebbel, Prebell, Prebel, Pribble, Prebble, Preble, Prebbil, Prebyll, Pribble and many more.

Early Notables of the Prebble family

More information is included under the topic Early Prebble Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Prebble migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Prebble Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • George Prebble, who was naturalized in South Carolina in 1804
  • John Prebble, who arrived in New York city in 1820

Prebble migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Prebble Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Robert H. Prebble, who was recorded in the Census of Ontario, Canada in 1871

Prebble migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Prebble Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Prebble, aged 40, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Aurora" in 1840
  • Ann Prebble, aged 36, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Aurora" in 1840
  • Richard Prebble, aged 16, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Aurora" in 1840
  • Ann Prebble, aged 15, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Aurora" in 1840
  • Mr. George Prebble, (b. 1819), aged 34, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 23rd December 1853 1
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Prebble (post 1700) +

  • Stuart Prebble (b. 1951), English broadcasting executive and author
  • Simon Prebble (b. 1942), English actor and narrator
  • Thomas Kenneth Prebble MNZM (1945-2021), English-born, New Zealand educationalist and university administrator
  • Richard William Prebble CBE (1948-1987), New Zealand politician, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (1987 to 1990)
  • Peter Prebble (1978-1982), Canadian politician, MLA for Saskatoon Sutherland
  • Mark Prebble CNZM (b. 1951), New Zealand State Services Commissioner (2004 to 2008)
  • Lucy Prebble (b. 1981), British writer
  • Lee Prebble, New Zealand record producer
  • John Edward Curtis Prebble FRSL, OBE (1915-2001), English-born, Canadian journalist, novelist, documentarian and historian
  • Antonia Prebble (b. 1984), New Zealand actress


  1. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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