Map of England showing where the Prather arms are recorded
The Prather 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 Prather 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 Prather Family in England
The Prather family name is rooted in the English countryside, with significant historical records placing early members in the county of Wiltshire by the year 1620. The name is generally classified as a topographical surname, which means it was likely given to people who lived near a specific landmark or a piece of land known as a "prath." During the early seventeenth century, many families in this region were involved in agriculture and local trade, living in small village communities that had remained largely unchanged for generations. As the seventeenth century progressed, the search for new opportunities led some members of the Prather family to leave Wiltshire and travel across the Atlantic to the American colonies. This migration was part of a larger movement of English families seeking land and stability during a time of significant political and social change in Britain. By establishing themselves in new territories, these early settlers helped carry the family name into a new era of history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
prat
Middle English term for a trick, cunning act, or meadow.
This name
PratherAn occupational name for a trickster or a dweller near a meadow.
also spelled
Prator
Prattor
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Coldham, Peter Wilson, The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607-1660, 1987
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Wiltshire Parish Registers, 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
