NameCensus.

UK surname

Prout

An English occupational surname for a brave or valiant person, derived from the Old French word "preux".

In the 1881 census there were 1,472 people recorded with the Prout surname, ranking it #2,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,656, ranked #3,766, down from #2,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Kingsclere and St Agnes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and South Hams.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Prout is 1,842 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.5%.

1881 census count

1,472

Ranked #2,837

Modern count

1,656

2016, ranked #3,766

Peak year

1911

1,842 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Prout had 1,472 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,656 in 2016, ranked #3,766.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,842 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Prout surname distribution map

The map shows where the Prout surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Prout surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Prout over time

The 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 1,195 #2,380
1861 historical 787 #3,503
1881 historical 1,472 #2,837
1891 historical 1,201 #3,565
1901 historical 1,803 #2,902
1911 historical 1,842 #2,681
1997 modern 1,734 #3,438
1998 modern 1,816 #3,427
1999 modern 1,815 #3,447
2000 modern 1,796 #3,467
2001 modern 1,763 #3,456
2002 modern 1,799 #3,450
2003 modern 1,759 #3,466
2004 modern 1,737 #3,507
2005 modern 1,704 #3,536
2006 modern 1,669 #3,602
2007 modern 1,686 #3,598
2008 modern 1,684 #3,629
2009 modern 1,739 #3,602
2010 modern 1,751 #3,647
2011 modern 1,710 #3,678
2012 modern 1,665 #3,716
2013 modern 1,699 #3,711
2014 modern 1,694 #3,731
2015 modern 1,668 #3,754
2016 modern 1,656 #3,766

Geography

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Where Prouts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Kingsclere, St Agnes and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and South Hams. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin Devon
2 Kingsclere Hampshire
3 St Agnes Cornwall
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 003 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 005 Cornwall
3 South Hams 005 South Hams
4 Cornwall 004 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 011 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Prout

These lists show first names that appear often with the Prout surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Prout

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Prout, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Prout surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Prout household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Prout is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Prout is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Prout falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Prout is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Prout, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Prout

The surname Prout originates from England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "prou," meaning "brave" or "valiant." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname given to someone who displayed acts of bravery or valor.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are entries for individuals with similar surnames such as "Prut" and "Prud." These variations in spelling were common during that time as standardized spelling was not yet established.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Prout can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1201, which mention a William Prout. Another early example is Hugh Prout, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275.

The surname Prout was also associated with various place names throughout England. For instance, in the 14th century, there were references to individuals from places like "Proutsfeld" and "Proutestrowe," which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Prout throughout history include:

1. Samuel Prout (1783-1852), an English painter and watercolorist known for his architectural and landscape works. 2. William Prout (1785-1850), an English chemist and physician who proposed the hypothesis that all atomic weights are whole-number multiples of the atomic weight of hydrogen. 3. John Skinner Prout (1809-1871), an English clergyman and composer of church music, best known for his hymn tunes. 4. Ebenezer Prout (1835-1909), an English music theorist and composer who wrote influential works on harmony and counterpoint. 5. Henry Prout (1892-1963), a British Olympic rower who won a silver medal at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm.

These examples showcase the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who bore the surname Prout, spanning fields such as art, science, music, and athletics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Prout families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Prout surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cornwall leads with 388 Prouts recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.60x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 388 23.60x
Devon 347 11.48x
Middlesex 140 0.96x
Gloucestershire 84 2.95x
Surrey 77 1.09x
Lancashire 63 0.37x
Pembrokeshire 55 11.91x
Hampshire 47 1.58x
Glamorgan 43 1.70x
Yorkshire 29 0.20x
Somerset 24 1.03x
Dorset 23 2.41x
Kent 18 0.36x
Berkshire 17 1.56x
Channel Islands 13 3.02x
Cheshire 13 0.41x
Monmouthshire 11 1.05x
Brecknockshire 10 3.44x
Warwickshire 10 0.27x
Cumberland 9 0.72x
Staffordshire 8 0.16x
Argyllshire 7 1.73x
Essex 7 0.24x
Northumberland 7 0.32x
Lanarkshire 5 0.11x
Royal Navy 5 2.89x
Shropshire 5 0.40x
Durham 4 0.09x
Herefordshire 3 0.50x
Norfolk 3 0.13x
Hertfordshire 2 0.20x
Leicestershire 2 0.12x
Midlothian 2 0.10x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.11x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.35x
Isle of Man 1 0.37x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.05x
Oxfordshire 1 0.11x
Sussex 1 0.04x
Wiltshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 58 Prouts recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.41x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 58 27.41x
Kingsclere 39 286.76x
St Agnes 37 160.66x
Plymouth Charles The 32 24.02x
Islington London 30 2.13x
St Ive 27 255.92x
St Endellion 25 438.60x
Lambeth 23 1.82x
St Teath 21 212.12x
St Pancras London 20 1.71x
Perranzabuloe 18 126.85x
St Issells 18 184.43x
Blackawton 17 322.58x
Ermington 17 154.55x
Illogan 17 39.04x
Clapham 16 8.81x
Coaley 16 437.16x
Tormoham 15 11.73x
Lewannick 14 436.14x
St Austell 14 24.91x
Tavistock 14 40.65x
Burton 13 280.17x
Lanteglos 13 171.05x
Aberystruth 11 11.88x
Calstock 11 34.11x
Diptford 11 333.33x
Hackney London 11 1.35x
Kingstanley 11 104.46x
Plymouth St Andrew 11 4.72x
Aston 10 0.99x
Frocester 10 735.29x
Kensington London 10 1.24x
Minster 10 446.43x
North Molton 10 169.78x
Redruth 10 21.50x
St Mary Magdalene 10 82.71x
St Tudy 10 386.10x
Wiveliscombe 10 76.75x
Amroth 9 246.58x
Battersea 9 1.68x
Cardiff St Mary 9 6.46x
Germoe 9 308.22x
Litton Cheney 9 391.30x
Millom 9 23.49x
Neath 9 17.49x
Sculcoates 9 3.94x
St Thomas Apostle 9 177.51x
Toxteth Park 9 1.54x
Ugborough 9 123.12x
Brampford Speke 8 331.95x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 2.98x
Exminster 8 73.60x
Habergham Eaves 8 5.08x
Llangattock 8 33.81x
Milton Abbott 8 182.65x
Shoreditch London 8 1.27x
St Columb Minor 8 57.93x
Werrington 8 244.65x
Whitechapel London 8 5.59x
Bridgewater 7 11.03x
Bristol St James St Paul 7 7.37x
Campbeltown 7 14.35x
Deptford St Paul 7 1.83x
Everton 7 1.27x
Liskeard 7 25.44x
Poughill 7 350.00x
St Peter Port 7 8.79x
St Stephen 7 120.07x
Tremaine 7 1627.91x
Warley 7 16.83x
Ystradyfodwg 7 3.16x
Barnes 6 20.05x
Burton Bradstock 6 127.66x
Holsworthy 6 70.34x
Modbury 6 77.72x
St Juliot 6 540.54x
St Marylebone London 6 0.77x
Stoke 6 49.02x
Stowford 6 307.69x
Sutton 6 10.38x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Prout surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Prout surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 112
John 89
Thomas 66
James 52
George 43
Richard 29
Charles 26
Henry 22
Robert 19
Frederick 17
Edward 16
Samuel 16
Alfred 15
Joseph 13
Albert 11
Walter 11
Francis 10
Stephen 9
Ernest 7
Edwin 6
Harry 6
Peter 6
Arthur 4
David 4
Frank 4
Herbert 4
Josiah 4
Thos. 4
Abraham 3
Daniel 3
Fredrick 3
Matthew 3
Sidney 3
Abram 2
Ambrose 2
Edgar 2
Isaac 2
Jno. 2
Levi 2
Percival 2
Ralph 2
Samson 2
Simon 2
Tom 2
Victor 2
W. 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Evan 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Prout surname: questions and answers

How common was the Prout surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,472 people were recorded with the Prout surname. That placed it at #2,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Prout surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,656 in 2016. That gives Prout a modern rank of #3,766.

What does the Prout surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a brave or valiant person, derived from the Old French word "preux".

What does the Prout map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Prout bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.