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

Prudence, 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 Prudence surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Prudence in America

Prudence is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Prudence surname appeared 105 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 Prudence.

The history of the last name Prudence

The surname Prudence is an English name derived from the word "prudent," which means "wise" or "cautious." It originated as a nickname given to someone who exhibited these qualities. The name can be traced back to the late 12th century in England.

Prudence is believed to have originated from the Old French word "prudence," which in turn comes from the Latin word "prudentia," meaning "foresight" or "wisdom." The name was likely given to individuals who were viewed as wise, cautious, or prudent in their actions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Prudence can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, England, from the year 1230, where a person named Robert Prudence is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use as a surname by the early 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname Prudence appeared in various historical records, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where a person named John Prudence is listed. This record provides evidence of the surname's continued use and spread across different regions of England.

Notable individuals who bore the surname Prudence include John Prudence (c. 1550 - 1620), an English composer and organist who served at the Chapel Royal during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. Another notable figure was Sir John Prudence (1618 - 1683), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the 17th century.

In the 18th century, Thomas Prudence (1736 - 1806) was an English clergyman and academic who served as the Archdeacon of Bedford and held various academic positions at the University of Oxford. During the same period, William Prudence (1752 - 1824) was a prominent English architect known for his work on the Downing College buildings in Cambridge.

More recently, in the 19th century, John Prudence (1808 - 1891) was an English painter and illustrator who gained recognition for his landscapes and depictions of rural life. He exhibited his works at the Royal Academy and other prestigious institutions.

While the surname Prudence has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and other English-speaking countries, due to migration and the influence of English culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Prudence

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

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 Prudence 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.

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

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

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