Contents [hide]

Prime History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Prime History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Prime

What does the name Prime mean?

The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought many new words to England from which surnames were formed. Prime was one of these new Norman names. It was specifically tailored to its first bearer, who was a slender or a small man having derived from the Old French word prim, meaning delicate. 1 2 3

However, another source claims that while the name is Norman, it is derived from the "Latin primus-first, best, chief, as in the old French phrase, 'Le prime de Chevaliers,' defined by Cotgrave as 'a prime Knight, the flower of Knights.' The French surname De la Pryme has, however, the appearance of a local origin." 4

Early Origins of the Prime family

The surname Prime was first found in Lincolnshire where William Prime was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. A few years later, Ralph Prime was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. 3 In Sussex they acquired the manor of Walberton House.

Early History of the Prime family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prime research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1550, 1596, 1628, 1629, 1671, 1701 and 1704 are included under the topic Early Prime History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prime Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Pryme, Prime and others.

Early Notables of the Prime family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

John Prime (1550-1596), English divine, son of Robert Prime, a butcher of Oxford, born in the parish of Holywell

Prime Ranking

In the United States, the name Prime is the 11,799^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5 However, in France, the name Prime is ranked the 3,606^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 6

Prime migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Prime or a variant listed above:

Prime Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mark Prime, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1630
Mark Prime, who landed in Rowley, Massachusetts in 1648 7
Abigail Prime, who landed in Maryland in 1670 7
Nicholas Prime, who settled in Philadelphia in 1683
Nicholas Prime, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1683-1684 7

Prime Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Prime, who settled in New England in 1725

Prime Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Prime, who landed in America in 1803 7
Alfred Prime, aged 36, who arrived in New York in 1854 7

Prime Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Richard William Prime, (b. 1884), aged 21, English bricksetter, from Plymouth, Devon, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 12th August 1905 en route to Montana, USA 8
Mr. William John Prime, (b. 1880), aged 25, English brick setter, from Plymouth, Devon, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 12th August 1905 en route to Montana, USA 8

Prime migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Prime Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Prime, British Convict who was convicted in Suffolk, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Mr. David Prime, English convict who was convicted in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 3rd November 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Nathan Prime, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Susannah" in 1849 11
Philip Prime, aged 31, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Calabar" 12

Prime 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:

Prime Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. H. G. Prime, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "George Canning" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1857 13
Mr. William Prime, (b. 1843), aged 25, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January1869 13
Mrs. Mary Prime, (b. 1845), aged 23, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January1869 13

Contemporary Notables of the name Prime (post 1700) +

Edward Dorr Griffin Prime (1814-1891), American clergyman and journalist
Samuel Irenæus Prime (1812-1885), American clergyman, traveler, and writer
Benjamin Young Prime (1733-1791), American poet, essayist, and songwriter
Victor W. Prime, American Republican politician, Chair of Essex County Republican Party, 1910
T. J. Prime (1883-1967), American politician, Mayor of Bergenfield, New Jersey, 1918-22
Spencer G. II Prime (b. 1883), American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Essex County, 1912-13
Spencer G. Prime, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Essex County, 1887-88
Michael A. Prime, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1956
Fred L. Prime, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives 4th District, 1974
James Prime, Scottish musician

The Prime Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nil invita minerva
Motto Translation: Nothing contrary to one’s genius.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SUSANNAH 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Susannah.htm
South Australian Register Tuesday 2nd August 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Calabar 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/williamstuart1853.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html