UK surname
An occupational surname for a priest or clergyman.
In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Pries surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #32,926 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Snodland with Paddleworth, Dudley and Wrexham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pries is 135 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 116.7%.
1881 census count
6
Ranked #32,926
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1861
135 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pries surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pries surname density by area, 1861 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1861 | historical | 135 | #16,651 |
| 1881 | historical | 6 | #32,926 |
| 1891 | historical | 90 | #25,399 |
| 1901 | historical | 10 | #33,026 |
| 1911 | historical | 33 | #29,703 |
| 1997 | modern | 30 | #34,701 |
| 1998 | modern | 33 | #34,532 |
| 1999 | modern | 26 | #35,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 24 | #35,498 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 21 | #35,798 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 19 | #36,147 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 21 | #36,179 |
| 2007 | modern | 20 | #36,362 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 16 | #36,850 |
| 2010 | modern | 17 | #36,862 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 20 | #36,614 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Snodland with Paddleworth, Dudley, Wrexham, Clifton and Wombridge. 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 | Snodland with Paddleworth | Kent |
| 2 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Wrexham | Denbighshire |
| 4 | Clifton | Gloucestershire |
| 5 | Wombridge | Shropshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pries 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 Pries, 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 Pries surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pries 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, Pries 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 Pries is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pries, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname PRIES has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the German word "Priester," meaning "priest" or "clergyman." The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who worked in the clergy or had a close association with the church.
In the early days, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Priess, Prieß, or Pries. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PRIES can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, Germany, dating back to the 13th century. The name appears in reference to a clergyman named Johannes Pries, who was a witness to a land transaction in 1244.
During the Middle Ages, the PRIES name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Saxony and Bavaria. Many villages and towns in these areas had churches and monasteries, which likely contributed to the popularity of the name among those associated with the clergy.
In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname PRIES was Johann Pries (1512-1568), a German Lutheran theologian and reformer. He was a close associate of Martin Luther and played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.
Another prominent individual with this surname was Friedrich Pries (1698-1758), a German botanist and naturalist. He made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in his native region of Saxony.
In the 19th century, the PRIES name gained recognition with the birth of Johann Wilhelm Pries (1806-1878), a German philosopher and educator. He was a proponent of the idealist philosophical movement and authored several influential works on ethics and education.
Another notable figure was Karl Pries (1887-1968), a German architect and urban planner. He was instrumental in the reconstruction and redesign of several cities in Germany after World War II, including the city of Frankfurt.
Throughout history, the surname PRIES has been associated with various place names, such as Priessac in France and Prieslitz in Germany, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in different regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pries 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. Surrey leads with 5 Pries' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.56x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Surrey leads with 5 Pries' recorded in 1881 and an index of 231.48x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Newington | 5 | 231.48x |
| Great Yarmouth | 1 | 135.14x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pries surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Dora | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pries 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 Pries households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Seaman O S | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Pries surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Pries a modern rank of #37,278.
An occupational surname for a priest or clergyman.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pries 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.