Find out how popular the last name Prayor is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Prayor.

Prayor, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Prayor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Prayor in America

Prayor is the 107669th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Prayor surname appeared 165 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Prayor.

We can also compare 2010 data for Prayor to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Prayor

The surname PRAYOR is of Anglo-Norman origin, with its roots traceable to the regions of what is now modern-day England and Northern France. It is derived from the Old French word "preier," meaning "to pray," and was likely given as an occupational surname to a church official or someone associated with religious duties.

The earliest recorded instances of the name PRAYOR can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this document, the name appears as "Preiour" and is linked to individuals residing in various counties, including Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

During the 12th century, the name PRAYOR gained prominence in the town of Shropshire, where a notable figure, William PRAYOR (1145-1212), served as a respected churchman and advisor to King Richard I. His descendants went on to establish themselves as landowners and influential members of the local community.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Prayour" and "Prayar," reflecting the evolution of spelling conventions over time. One noteworthy bearer was Sir John PRAYOR (1320-1389), a knight who fought alongside Edward, the Black Prince, during the Hundred Years' War.

The 16th century saw the rise of a prominent family of PRAYORs in the city of York, England. Among them was Robert PRAYOR (1515-1582), a successful merchant and alderman who played a significant role in the city's governance and trade activities.

As the centuries progressed, the PRAYOR surname spread across various parts of England and beyond. Notable individuals included Thomas PRAYOR (1670-1734), a respected scholar and theologian at Oxford University, and Elizabeth PRAYOR (1785-1862), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's education.

Throughout its history, the PRAYOR name has been associated with various professions, from religious figures and scholars to merchants and military personnel. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, its origins remain rooted in the religious and occupational traditions of medieval England and Northern France.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Prayor

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Prayor.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Prayor was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Prayor has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Prayor was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Prayor, please contact us.

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