Pryce
A Welsh toponymic surname derived from the word "pres," meaning brushwood or shrubland.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,016 Americans carry the last name Pryce. That puts it at #12,055 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.88 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 113,645 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Pryce surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
3.0K
1 in 113,645
Census rank
#12,055
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,587 bearers of the surname Pryce in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.88 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12055th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Pryce, the largest self-reported group is Black at 56.4%. The next largest groups are White (38.0%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Pryce
The surname Pryce originates from Wales, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Welsh word "ap Rhys," meaning "son of Rhys," with Rhys being a common Welsh personal name. This patronymic naming system was widely used in Wales before the adoption of fixed surnames.
The name Pryce can be traced back to various regions in Wales, particularly in areas like Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire, and Breconshire. Its earliest recorded spellings include "ap Rees," "ap Res," and "ap Ryce," which eventually evolved into the modern form of "Pryce."
Historical references to the name Pryce can be found in various medieval Welsh records and manuscripts. One notable example is the appearance of the name in the Llyfr Baglan, a 15th-century Welsh manuscript containing poetry and historical information.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Pryce was Rhys ap Gruffydd (c. 1132-1197), a Welsh prince and leader who played a significant role in the conflicts between the Welsh and the Norman invaders. Another notable figure was Sir John Pryce (c. 1505-1573), a Welsh landowner and member of the Council of Wales during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Other prominent individuals with the surname Pryce include:
1. Samuel Pryce (1628-1704), a Welsh clergyman and writer known for his work on the history of Radnorshire.
2. William Pryce (1700-1772), a Welsh naturalist and author of the book "Mineralogia Cornubiensis," which explored the minerals of Cornwall.
3. Thomas Pryce (1801-1878), a Welsh artist and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural drawings.
4. John Pryce-Jones (1835-1899), a Welsh businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament.
5. Hilda Pryce (1892-1975), a Welsh artist and illustrator renowned for her work in children's literature.
Throughout history, the surname Pryce has been associated with various place names and locations in Wales, such as Pryce's Castle in Montgomeryshire and Pryce's Farm in Radnorshire. These place names often reflect the presence and influence of individuals bearing the Pryce surname in those areas.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Pryce
Among Census respondents with the surname Pryce, the largest self-reported group is Black at 56.4%. The next largest groups are White (38.0%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Pryce bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Pryce surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American56.4%
- White38.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
- Two or more races2.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Pryce surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,085 | #12,055 | 7.9% |
| Count | 2,144 | 2,587 | 20.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.79 | 0.88 | 11.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Pryce bearers went from 2,144 to 2,587 (+20.7% change). The surname moved up 1,030 positions in the national ranking, going from #13,085 to #12,055.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Pryce
FAQ
Pryce surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Pryce?
The surname Pryce holds position #12,055 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 3,016 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.88 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Pryce surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Pryce, the largest self-reported group is Black at 56.4%. The next largest groups are White (38.0%) and Hispanic (2.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.