NameCensus.

UK surname

Pryde

A Scottish habitational surname referring to a place derived from the Old English word "prydt" meaning pride.

In the 1881 census there were 837 people recorded with the Pryde surname, ranking it #4,505 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,369, ranked #4,401, up from #4,505 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Falkland, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dalkeith, Gorebridge and Middleton and Thornybank.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pryde is 1,394 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.6%.

1881 census count

837

Ranked #4,505

Modern count

1,369

2016, ranked #4,401

Peak year

1999

1,394 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pryde had 837 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,505 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,369 in 2016, ranked #4,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,107 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Pryde surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pryde surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pryde 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 290 #7,844
1861 historical 446 #5,796
1881 historical 837 #4,505
1891 historical 915 #4,514
1901 historical 1,107 #4,362
1911 historical 196 #15,150
1997 modern 1,337 #4,303
1998 modern 1,369 #4,352
1999 modern 1,394 #4,320
2000 modern 1,371 #4,369
2001 modern 1,339 #4,371
2002 modern 1,371 #4,363
2003 modern 1,348 #4,352
2004 modern 1,336 #4,394
2005 modern 1,351 #4,310
2006 modern 1,335 #4,359
2007 modern 1,344 #4,366
2008 modern 1,346 #4,387
2009 modern 1,361 #4,422
2010 modern 1,382 #4,450
2011 modern 1,351 #4,489
2012 modern 1,314 #4,523
2013 modern 1,361 #4,473
2014 modern 1,363 #4,489
2015 modern 1,357 #4,462
2016 modern 1,369 #4,401

Geography

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Where Prydes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Falkland, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Dalkeith and Newbattle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dalkeith, Gorebridge and Middleton, Thornybank, Newtongrange and West Calder and Polbeth. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Falkland Fife
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Dalkeith Edinburgh
5 Newbattle Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dalkeith Midlothian
2 Gorebridge and Middleton Midlothian
3 Thornybank Midlothian
4 Newtongrange Midlothian
5 West Calder and Polbeth West Lothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pryde

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pryde

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Pryde surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Pryde household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pryde is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pryde is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pryde 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 Pryde is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pryde

The surname Pryde originates from Scotland and is believed to have emerged in the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "prud," meaning pride or haughty, suggesting that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with a proud or arrogant demeanor.

One of the earliest records of the name Pryde can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which document the Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This includes an entry for "Henricus de Prude," indicating that the name was present in Scotland during the late 13th century.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various Scottish records, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which mention individuals like "Johannis de Pryde" and "Robertus Pryde." These entries suggest that the name had spread across different regions of Scotland by that time.

The surname Pryde is also linked to the Scottish town of Pryde or Prydes, located in Banffshire. It is possible that some individuals with the surname may have derived their name from this place name, which could have been originally coined as a descriptive term for a location associated with pride or arrogance.

Notable individuals with the surname Pryde include:

1. Sir Robert Pryde (c. 1570-1640), a Scottish merchant and politician who served as Provost of Edinburgh from 1623 to 1626. 2. John Pryde (1756-1837), a Scottish Presbyterian minister and author, known for his work "A Narrative of the Rebellion in Ireland in 1798." 3. James Pryde (1866-1941), a British artist and illustrator, known for his etchings and watercolors depicting scenes of everyday life. 4. Anthony Pryde (1919-1995), a British actor and playwright, best known for his roles in films like "The Dam Busters" and "The Longest Day." 5. David Pryde (born 1971), a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a defender for clubs like Hibernian and Falkirk.

The surname Pryde continues to be prevalent in Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom, as well as in countries with significant Scottish diaspora populations, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pryde families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pryde 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. Midlothian leads with 274 Prydes recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.29x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 274 25.29x
Fife 248 51.81x
Lanarkshire 72 2.75x
Lancashire 47 0.49x
Angus 45 6.01x
East Lothian 22 20.54x
Stirlingshire 22 7.38x
Denbighshire 12 3.93x
Middlesex 11 0.14x
Selkirkshire 11 15.04x
Dunbartonshire 10 4.60x
Caithness 8 7.23x
Northumberland 8 0.66x
Kinross-shire 5 24.46x
Peeblesshire 5 13.14x
Perthshire 5 1.38x
Cumberland 4 0.57x
Kent 4 0.15x
Surrey 3 0.08x
Yorkshire 3 0.04x
Berwickshire 2 2.04x
Renfrewshire 2 0.32x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.13x
Argyllshire 1 0.44x
Hampshire 1 0.06x
Suffolk 1 0.10x
Warwickshire 1 0.05x
West Lothian 1 0.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newbattle in Midlothian leads with 77 Prydes recorded in 1881 and an index of 831.53x.

Place Total Index
Newbattle 77 831.53x
Dalkeith 34 159.10x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 34 7.80x
Dunfermline 29 39.40x
Dundee 23 8.22x
Wemyss 21 103.70x
Cranston 19 688.41x
Inveresk 19 64.78x
Ferry Port On Craig 18 228.43x
Govan 18 2.78x
Largo 18 289.39x
West Calder 16 74.94x
Cameron 15 539.57x
New Monkland 15 19.40x
Cockpen 13 102.69x
Strathmiglo 13 227.27x
Kilconquhar 12 210.53x
Temple 12 278.42x
Bothwell 11 15.51x
Ceres 11 191.30x
Falkland 11 146.08x
Ormiston 11 387.32x
Aberdour 10 207.47x
Auchterderran 10 83.06x
Garston 10 35.31x
Penicuik 10 67.93x
West Derby 10 3.56x
Broughton 9 74.94x
Galashiels 9 33.27x
Glasgow 9 1.94x
Leslie 9 74.26x
South Leith 9 7.38x
Barony 8 1.21x
Edinburgh St Marys 8 37.99x
Kirkintilloch 8 27.10x
Walton On Hill 8 15.39x
Carnbee 7 238.91x
Cupar 7 33.62x
Toxteth Park 7 2.15x
Brechin 6 20.38x
Cheetham 6 8.38x
Kettle 6 104.35x
Kilmany 6 342.86x
Montrose 6 13.22x
Newburn 6 625.00x
St Andrews 6 27.55x
Alva 5 35.14x
Auchtermuchty 5 77.76x
Barry 5 55.62x
Cults 5 256.41x
Kirkdale 5 3.10x
Lasswade 5 20.19x
Muiravonside 5 65.96x
Newlands 5 220.26x
Old Monkland 5 4.82x
Orwell 5 88.65x
Prestonpans 5 69.64x
Scoonie 5 48.22x
Tynemouth 5 7.76x
Abbotshall 4 22.36x
Campsie 4 24.43x
Duddingston 4 18.39x
Falkirk 4 5.73x
Monifieth 4 15.12x
North Leith 4 7.98x
Rutherglen 4 10.42x
Wick 4 11.19x
Borthwick 3 61.98x
Brightside Bierlow 3 1.91x
Bromley London 3 1.69x
Brymbo 3 28.20x
Burntisland 3 22.42x
Chirton 3 11.02x
Greenwich 3 2.33x
Islington London 3 0.38x
Kemback 3 126.58x
Moonzie 3 731.71x
Olrig 3 54.25x
Slamannan 3 18.37x
Tranent 3 20.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 5
Mary 5
Elizabeth 4
Eliza 3
Rachel 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Annabella 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Christina 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Elsie 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lucas 1
Mabel 1
Maggie 1
Margaretta 1
Margt. 1
Matilda 1
Priscilla 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
James 6
John 6
Andrew 5
David 3
George 3
Robert 3
Arthur 2
Alex. 1
Alexander 1
Edward 1
Frederic 1
Laurence 1
Leopold 1
Matthew 1
Thos. 1
Valentine 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Pryde surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pryde surname in 1881?

In 1881, 837 people were recorded with the Pryde surname. That placed it at #4,505 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pryde surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,369 in 2016. That gives Pryde a modern rank of #4,401.

What does the Pryde surname mean?

A Scottish habitational surname referring to a place derived from the Old English word "prydt" meaning pride.

What does the Pryde map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pryde 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.