Show ContentsProbert History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Probert

What does the name Probert mean?

The distinguished surname Probert is of Welsh origin, and is derived from the Welsh patronymic name "Ap-Robert," which means "a son of Robert." 1 2 3

The distinctive Welsh patronymic prefix "ab" or "ap," means "son of," but the prefix has been assimilated into the surname over the course of time.

Early Origins of the Probert family

The surname Probert was first found in at Pant Glas near the village of Trelleck, county of Monmouthshire (Welsh: Sir Fynwy), where Thomas ap Robert (d. 1536), son of Robert ap Jenkins (d. 1509), gentleman usher of King Henry VII was found. Thomas' son Walter was the first to bear the Probert surname. Another early reference finds the family name at Chirk, on the Welsh border.

Early History of the Probert family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Probert research. Another 175 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1570, 1617, 1629, 1632, 1645, 1646, 1661, 1663, 1664, 1677, 1695, 1719, 1790, 1814, 1815, 1821 and 1870 are included under the topic Early Probert History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Probert Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Probert, Probbert, Propert, Proput, Probutt, Probat, Probart, Proppert, Rotpert, Rotperd, Brobert, Bropert, Broppert, Probat and many more.

Early Notables of the Probert family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

  • Sir George Probert (c.1617-1677), Welsh politician from Pant Glas, Raglan, Monmouthshire, Member of the Parliament of England for Monmouth Boroughs from 1661 to 1677...

Migration of the Probert family to Ireland

Some of the Probert family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Probert migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Probert Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Probert, who immigrated to Virginia in 1663
  • John Probert, who landed in Maryland in 1678 4
  • Henry Probert, who landed in Virginia in 1699 4
Probert Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Walter Probert, who landed in Virginia in 1712 4
  • Alice Probert, a British convict transported to Maryland in 1724
Probert Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Eliza Probert, aged 3, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Princess" in 1833 5
  • John Probert, aged 1, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Princess" in 1833 5
  • Jas Probert, aged 30, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Princess" in 1833 5
  • Sarah Probert, aged 30, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Princess" in 1833 5
  • Jane Probert, aged 3, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Montreal" in 1839 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Probert migration to Australia +

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

Probert Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Edward Probert, English convict from London, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 6
  • Mr. John Probert, (b. 1812), aged 18, English dyer who was convicted in Manchester, Greater Manchester, England for 7 years for house breaking, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 11th August 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1887 7
  • Thomas Probert, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Jenny Lind" in 1850 8
  • John Probert, aged 25, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Henry Moore"
  • John Probert, aged 20, who arrived in South Australia in 1860 aboard the ship "Grand Trianon"
Probert Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century
  • Arthur Probert, aged 54, Welsh settler who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Ormuz" in 1908 9
  • Arthur J. Probert, aged 24, Welsh settler who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Ormuz" in 1908 9
  • Martha Probert, aged 44, British settler who arrived in Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Ormuz" in 1908 9
  • William Probert, aged 24, British settler who arrived in Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Ormuz" in 1908 9
  • Jane Eliz Probert, aged 22, British settler who arrived in Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Ormuz" in 1908 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Probert 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:

Probert Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Probert, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jura" in 1861 10
  • Louisa Probert, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cairngorm" in 1863
  • Margaret Probert, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cairngorm" in 1863
  • William Probert, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cairngorm" in 1863
  • Ellen Probert, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cairngorm" in 1863
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Probert (post 1700) +

  • Marion Earl Probert (1933-1965), American college football defensive end and surgeon, he died in a plane crash
  • Ann Linen Probert (b. 1938), American contemporary amateur golfer from New Jersey, recipient of the United States Golf Association's (USGA) Ike Grainger Award
  • George Probert Jr. (1927-2015), American jazz clarinetist, soprano saxophonist, and bandleader active principally on the Dixieland jazz revival circuit
  • Matthew "Matt" Probert, American publisher and founder of the Probert Encyclopaedia, a defunct online encyclopedia containing over 110,000 entries in 1993
  • Andrew Probert (b. 1946), American film artist from Independence, Missouri, best known for his work on Back to the Future (1985), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
  • William John Probert (b. 1924), American business executive and civic official
  • William Probert (1790-1870), Welsh unitarian minister, born at Painscastle, Radnorshire
  • Rhys Probert CB (1921-1980), British aeronautical engineer, son of the Reverend Thomas and Margaret Jane Probert of Blackwood, South Wales
  • David Probert (b. 1988), Welsh jockey who was joint British flat racing Champion Apprentice in 2008
  • Thomas "Tom" John William Probert (b. 1986), English former first-class cricketer
  • ... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. 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)
  5. Ellis Island Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  6. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1828 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1828
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
  8. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JENNY LIND 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850JennyLind.gif
  9. National Archives of Australia retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au
  10. 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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