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

Prier, 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 Prier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Prier in America

Prier is the 31184th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Prier surname appeared 744 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 Prier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Prier 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 Prier

The 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 In some historical documents, the name appeared with slight variations in spelling, such as Prier, Pryer, or Priere.

One notable historical reference to the PRIER name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded land holdings and property ownership in England following the Norman Conquest.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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Prier

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

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 Prier 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 Prier 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 Prier was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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