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

Pruden, 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 Pruden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pruden in America

Pruden is the 12035th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pruden surname appeared 2,593 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 Pruden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pruden 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 Pruden

The surname Pruden is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "prudan," which means "proud" or "haughty." Some historians also suggest a connection to the Anglo-Norman French word "pruden," meaning "wise" or "prudent."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1199, which mentions a "Willelmus Prude." The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also list a "Ricardus Prude" in the county of Oxfordshire.

During the medieval period, the surname Pruden was prevalent in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Gloucestershire. It is often associated with place names such as Prudhoe in Northumberland, which was recorded as "Prudhou" in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Notably, Sir John Pruden (c. 1490-1557) was a prominent English merchant and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1548-1549.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Edmund Pruden (1572-1629), a renowned English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Baron of the Exchequer from 1624 until his death.

In the 17th century, Robert Pruden (c. 1625-1695) was a celebrated English writer and clergyman, best known for his works on theology and philosophy.

The Pruden family also had a presence in colonial America, with William Pruden (c. 1640-1710) being one of the early settlers in Virginia. He established a successful plantation and played a significant role in the development of the colony.

During the 18th century, Samuel Pruden (1718-1784) gained recognition as a highly skilled English clockmaker and watchmaker, renowned for his intricate and precise timepieces.

As the centuries passed, the Pruden surname continued to be found throughout various regions of England, with many families contributing to the rich tapestry of the country's history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pruden

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

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

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

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