Pridgeon

The surname Pridgeon has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "pryde," meaning pride or arrogance, suggesting that the name may have been given as a nickname to someone with a particularly proud or haughty demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pridgeon can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dating back to 1197, where it appears as "Pridion." This document was a record of financial transactions maintained by the Exchequer of England during the reign of King Richard I.

During the 13th century, the name Pridgeon was predominantly concentrated in the counties of Somerset and Dorset in southern England. This is evidenced by various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, which list several individuals bearing the name in these regions.

In the 14th century, the Pridgeon surname appears to have spread to other parts of England, with records showing individuals bearing the name in counties such as Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire. One notable example is John Pridgeon, a merchant from Bristol who was granted a license to trade in 1382 by King Richard II.

The earliest known spelling variation of the surname was "Pridegun," which can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273. This document was a survey of landholdings in England, commissioned by King Edward I.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Pridgeon. One such person was Thomas Pridgeon (1615-1676), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament who represented the borough of Lyme Regis during the English Civil War.

Another prominent figure was John Pridgeon (1720-1798), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He achieved the rank of Vice Admiral and was appointed Governor of the Royal Naval Hospital at Greenwich in 1793.

In the 19th century, Henry Pridgeon (1818-1891) was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter and the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Clevedon.

Additionally, William Pridgeon (1854-1924) was a British trade unionist and Labour politician who served as the Member of Parliament for North-West Ham from 1906 to 1918.

One of the more recent notable individuals with the surname Pridgeon was Cuthbert Pridgeon (1888-1952), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Surrey County Cricket Club in the early 20th century.