UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "priory".
In the 1881 census there were 91 people recorded with the Prier surname, ranking it #20,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 28, ranked #36,125, down from #20,843 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Foulsham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Prier is 393 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 69.2%.
1881 census count
91
Ranked #20,843
Modern count
28
2016, ranked #36,125
Peak year
1861
393 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Prier surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Prier surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 386 | #6,216 |
| 1861 | historical | 393 | #6,524 |
| 1881 | historical | 91 | #20,843 |
| 1891 | historical | 330 | #10,303 |
| 1901 | historical | 124 | #20,163 |
| 1911 | historical | 152 | #17,712 |
| 1997 | modern | 41 | #33,552 |
| 1998 | modern | 41 | #33,747 |
| 1999 | modern | 37 | #34,248 |
| 2000 | modern | 37 | #34,217 |
| 2001 | modern | 36 | #34,171 |
| 2002 | modern | 37 | #34,390 |
| 2003 | modern | 36 | #34,522 |
| 2004 | modern | 36 | #34,717 |
| 2005 | modern | 32 | #35,191 |
| 2006 | modern | 35 | #35,191 |
| 2007 | modern | 36 | #35,278 |
| 2008 | modern | 37 | #35,327 |
| 2009 | modern | 35 | #35,545 |
| 2010 | modern | 31 | #35,906 |
| 2011 | modern | 32 | #35,831 |
| 2012 | modern | 31 | #35,876 |
| 2013 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
| 2014 | modern | 35 | #35,722 |
| 2015 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2016 | modern | 28 | #36,125 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Foulsham, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Foulsham | Norfolk |
| 4 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Prier surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Prier, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Prier surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Prier household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Prier is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Prier is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Prier, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname PRIER is believed to have originated in France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "prier," which means "to pray." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who worked in religious orders or were known for their piety.
The earliest recorded instances of the PRIER surname can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of northern France, particularly in Normandy and Picardy. In some historical documents, the name appeared with slight variations in spelling, such as Prier, Pryer, or Priere.
One notable historical reference to the PRIER name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded land holdings and property ownership in England following the Norman Conquest. While the entries are sparse, they provide evidence of the name's presence in the region during that time period.
In the 13th century, a notable figure named Guillaume PRIER (born around 1220) was a prominent cleric and scholar from the city of Rouen in Normandy. He authored several works on theology and was highly regarded for his contributions to the intellectual discourse of his time.
During the 14th century, the PRIER surname began to spread across various parts of Europe as individuals migrated and settled in new areas. In Italy, for instance, a family by the name of PRIER can be traced back to the city of Genoa, where they were involved in maritime trade and commerce.
Another noteworthy individual bearing the PRIER surname was Jean PRIER (1536-1596), a French Protestant reformer and theologian who played a significant role in the French Wars of Religion. He was a vocal advocate for religious tolerance and freedom of conscience.
In the 17th century, a prominent PRIER family established themselves in the Netherlands, where they were involved in the textile industry. One member of this family, Willem PRIER (1628-1704), became a respected merchant and served as a alderman in the city of Leiden.
As the PRIER surname continued to spread across Europe, it also found its way to various regions of the British Isles. In the 18th century, a Scottish clan by the name of PRIER gained prominence in the Highlands, with their ancestral lands being located in the region of Argyll.
Throughout its history, the PRIER surname has been associated with various place names, such as Priersville, a small village in Normandy, and Prierenbach, a town in Germany. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the PRIER surname who settled in those areas and played a role in their establishment or development.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Prier surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 29 Priers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.27x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 29 | 3.27x |
| Surrey | 16 | 3.70x |
| Kent | 10 | 3.30x |
| Essex | 7 | 4.00x |
| Somerset | 6 | 4.20x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.47x |
| Durham | 4 | 1.51x |
| Cornwall | 3 | 2.99x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 2.55x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.23x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.31x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.54x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.72x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.55x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.56x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.33x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.67x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hammersmith London in Middlesex leads with 10 Priers recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.75x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hammersmith London | 10 | 45.75x |
| St Pancras London | 8 | 11.20x |
| Writtle | 7 | 972.22x |
| Bow London | 6 | 53.10x |
| Battersea | 5 | 15.31x |
| Camberwell | 5 | 8.82x |
| Deptford St Paul | 5 | 21.40x |
| Seavington St Michael | 4 | 5714.29x |
| Stockton On Tees | 4 | 31.42x |
| Heaton Norris | 3 | 50.08x |
| Maidstone | 3 | 33.26x |
| Woking | 3 | 114.94x |
| Crewkerne | 2 | 131.58x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 2.58x |
| Liskeard | 2 | 119.05x |
| Manchester | 2 | 4.22x |
| Margate St John Baptist | 2 | 36.10x |
| Newburgh | 2 | 5000.00x |
| Swindon | 2 | 32.84x |
| Alfold | 1 | 625.00x |
| Brighton | 1 | 3.31x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 3.74x |
| Compton Vallence | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Malpas | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.06x |
| Seaton | 1 | 112.36x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 2.60x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 1 | 19.65x |
| St George In East | 1 | 16.56x |
| St Teath | 1 | 163.93x |
| Stoke Damerel | 1 | 7.73x |
| Walsall Foreign | 1 | 6.46x |
| Yateley | 1 | 294.12x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Prier surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Prier surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Prier households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 18 |
| Laundress | 4 |
| Bricklayer | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Ag Lab Carter | 1 |
| Ag Laborer | 1 |
| Agri Lab | 1 |
| Assistant In Shop | 1 |
| Brush Maker | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Clerk At Hat Shop | 1 |
| Clerk Hospital | 1 |
| Coachman N D | 1 |
| Coal Dealer | 1 |
| Collar Maker | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Dairyman | 1 |
| Dentist Assistant | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Factory Apprentice | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Grainer | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic | 1 |
| Lab In Iron Wks | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer (Factory) | 1 |
| Licenced Victualler | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Mason | 1 |
| Merchant | 1 |
| Miller (C) | 1 |
| Millers Wife | 1 |
| Overseer Post Office C S O | 1 |
| Railway Lab | 1 |
| Retired Publican Widow | 1 |
| Seaman | 1 |
| Servant Dom | 1 |
| Tinman | 1 |
| Visitor | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 91 people were recorded with the Prier surname. That placed it at #20,843 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 28 in 2016. That gives Prier a modern rank of #36,125.
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "priory".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Prier bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.