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

Prout, 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 Prout surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Prout in America

Prout is the 11508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Prout surname appeared 2,733 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Prout.

We can also compare 2010 data for Prout 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 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Prout

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

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

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

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