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

Prude, 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 Prude surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Prude in America

Prude is the 19567th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Prude surname appeared 1,379 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 Prude.

We can also compare 2010 data for Prude 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 Prude

The surname Prude originated in France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "prude," which meant "prudent" or "wise." The name likely started as a nickname for someone who was considered to be exceptionally prudent, cautious, or discreet in their actions and behavior.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Prude can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. It lists several individuals with the name Prude, indicating that the surname was already established in various regions of England after the Norman Conquest.

During the 13th century, the surname Prude appeared in various records and documents across France and England. For example, a certain Robert Prude was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1221, while a Willelmus Prude was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275.

In the 14th century, the surname Prude continued to spread across various regions of Europe. One notable example is Hugh Prude, a merchant from Bristol, England, who was active in the wool trade during the late 1300s.

By the 15th century, the Prude surname had established itself in various parts of England, Scotland, and France. In 1492, a John Prude was listed as a land-owner in the Cartulary of Bury St. Edmunds Abbey in Suffolk, England.

Throughout the following centuries, several individuals with the surname Prude achieved notable accomplishments or positions. For instance, William Prude (1606-1676) was an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Hinxton in Cambridgeshire. Another notable figure was Jacques Prude (1720-1789), a French philosopher and author who wrote extensively on moral philosophy and ethics.

Other notable individuals with the surname Prude include:

1. Sir Thomas Prude (1768-1843), an English military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars.
2. Elizabeth Prude (1810-1892), a Scottish novelist and poet known for her works depicting life in the Scottish Highlands.
3. Henri Prude (1845-1911), a French painter and sculptor who was part of the Impressionist movement.
4. Alice Prude (1875-1952), an American educator and advocate for women's rights, who played a significant role in establishing higher education opportunities for women.
5. John Prude (1901-1980), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party in the 1960s.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Prude

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

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

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

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