Price History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Welsh name Price is a patronymic surname created from the Welsh personal name Rhys, which also took the forms Rice and Rees. The surname Price was originally ap-Rhys, ap-Rice, or ap-Rees: the distinctive Welsh patronymic prefix “ap,” means “son of,” but the prefix has been assimilated into the surname over the course of time.

Early Origins of the Price family

The surname Price was first found in Merionethshire (Welsh: Sir Feirionnydd), made a county in Northwest Wales in 1284, and anciently part of the kingdom of Gwynedd, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Price family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Price research. ‘

Price Spelling Variations

There are relatively few surnames native to Wales, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. Early variations of Welsh surnames can be explained by the fact that very few people in the early Middle Ages were literate. Priests and the few other literate people were responsible for recording names in official documents. And because most people could not specific how to properly record their names it was up to the individual recorder of that time to determine how a spoken name should be recorded. Variations due to the imprecise or improper recording of a name continued later in history when names originally composed in the Brythonic Celtic, language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, were transliterated into English. Welsh names that were documented in English often changed dramatically since the native language of Wales, which was highly inflected, did not copy well. Occasionally, however, spelling variations were carried out according to an individual’s specific design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by minor variations. The spelling variations of the name Price have included Price, Pryce and others.

Early Notables of the Price family (pre 1700)

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Marchwithian, Chieftain of the Prices in North Wales; Sir John Price, Ap Price, Ap Rhys (died 1573), Welsh visitor of the monasteries, was son of Rhys ab Gwilym; Sir John Pryce (Price), 1st Baronet (ca. 1596-ca. 1657), an Anglo-Welsh Baronet and Member of Parliament, initially a Royalist in 1628 he was created a Baronet; Sir Richard Pryse, 1st Baronet (died 1651), a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1646 to 1648; Sir Richard Pryse, 2nd Baronet (c.1630-c.1675), a Welsh landowner and politician.

Price World Ranking

In the United States, the name Price is the 76^th most popular surname with an estimated 246,213 people with that name. [1] However, in Canada, the name Price is ranked the 254^thmost popular surname with an estimated 16,188 people with that name. [2] And in Australia, the name Price is the 96^th popular surname with an estimated 26,319 people with that name. [3] New Zealand ranks Price as 105^th with 3,945 people. [4] The United Kingdom ranks Price as 57^th with 74,870 people. [5]

 Migration of the Price family to Ireland

Some of the Price family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Price migration to the United States +

Many Welsh families joined their Scottish and Irish neighbors during the late 1800s and early 1900s in seeking refuge in North America. Like the Irish and Scottish, many Welsh anxiously awaited the work, freedom, and opportunities that they believed lay in North America. Those who did journey over to the United States and what became known as Canada often realized those dreams, but only through much toil and perseverance. Whenever and however these Welsh immigrants arrived in North America, they were instrumental in the creation of the industry, commerce, and cultural heritage within those two developing nations. In the immigration and passenger lists a number of early immigrants bearing the name Price were found: 

Price Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Mr. John Price, aged 40, who arrived in Virginia in 1611 aboard the ship “Starr” [6]
• Mr. William Price, who arrived in Virginia in 1611 aboard the ship “Starr” [6]
• Hugh Price,aged 35, who arrived in Virginia in 1618 aboard the ship “William and John”
• Miss Judith Price, aged 24, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship “Mary Gold” [6]
• Ann Price, aged 21, who arrived in Virginia in 1620 aboard the ship “Francis Bonaventure” [6]

Price Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Anne Price, who landed in Virginia in 1703 [7]
• Frances Price, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 [7]
• Conrad Price, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 [7]
• John Jacob Price, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 [7]
• George Price, who arrived in Frederick County, Maryland in 1796 [7]

Price Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Ellis Price, who landed in America in 1801 [7]
• David Price, aged 23, who landed in New York in 1812 [7]
• Abel Price, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 [7]
• Daniel Price, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 [7]
• Mr. George Price, (b. 1827), aged 24, Cornish miner departing from Penzance aboard the ship “Mecca” arriving in the United States on 31 July 1851