Map of England showing where the Prater arms are recorded
The Prater arms were recorded in Wilts, c. 1620.
Wiltshire was sheep country, and wool made money steadily for hundreds of years. Families who made it bought manors on the downs, and holding a manor was the usual reason to take arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Prater arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Wilts.
Origin & History of the Prater Family in England
The surname Prater has deep roots in the English county of Wiltshire, where the family was well established by the early seventeenth century. Historical records confirm that members of the Prater family were living in this region by 1620, often associated with the local gentry and landowning classes. The name itself is believed to be an occupational surname, likely derived from the Middle English word "prater," which was used to describe someone who was talkative or perhaps someone who worked as a meadow keeper. During this period, the family was closely tied to the rural landscape of southern England, where they played active roles in their local parishes. As the seventeenth century progressed, the family name became increasingly visible in regional legal and property documents, reflecting their steady integration into the social and economic fabric of the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
prat
A Middle English term for a trick, prank, or cunning act.
This name
PraterAn occupational name for a trickster, a cunning person, or a messenger.
also spelled
Prator
Prattor
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Fry, George S., Abstracts of Wiltshire Inquisitiones Post Mortem returned into the Court of Chancery in the reign of King Charles I, 1901
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Wiltshire Quarter Sessions Great Rolls, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
wolfReward from long service and hard work
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
wolfReward from long service and hard work
lionCourage, strength and royalty
