This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Prat'. It seems strange that the origin of this surname should be in any doubt. No less than thirty Prats are mentioned in the Hundred Rolls (1273), proving a very early popularity. In no single case, however, is there any prefix de, or de la, or atle, pointing to a local derivation. I see no other conclusion than that it was a personal name. Sprat or Sprot was, we know, a familiar personal name at the same period. Mr. Lower suggests that as the surname Meadow is Latinized into 'de Prato' in early registers, Pratt is a 'contraction.' This is utterly beside the mark.

Norman Prat, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Thomas Prat, Gloucestershire, ibid.

Osbert Prat, Huntingdonshire, ibid.

Eustace Prat, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

So the name runs. Until proof to the contrary is advanced, I am driven to the conclusion that Prat was an old personal name.

Richard Pratt, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

1579-80. Henry Pratt, collier, and Avice Sharpe: Marriage Lic. (London), i-95- .

This surname has been derived (1) from Old French prat (Latin pratum), French pre, a meadow, meaning a dweller at or by a meadow, but in no instance in Scottish record does it appear with de prefixed. (2) From Old English praett, a wile or stratagem. In the Vita Herewardi Aelfric Praet, we are told, derived his name from the stratagems with which he continually afflicted the Norman forces. This derivation may be accepted for what it is worth. Prats or Pratts were neighbors of the Grants and Bissets both in the north in early thirteenth century and in their earlier home in Nottinghamshire, and probably came north with the Bissets. William Prat, the first of the name recorded in Scotland, witnessed a charter by William Cumyn, earl of Buchan, before 1200 (REA., I, p. 15), and is also mentioned as sheriff of Invemaimp at beginning of thirteenth century (Illus., II, p. 283). William Prat of Fifeshire rendered homage, 1296. His seal bears the Agnus Dei and S' Wilelmi Prat (Bain, II, p. 185 200). Thomas Prat held a land in Aberdeen, 1464 (RAA., II, 155), and as Pret and Pratt he appears as burgess there, 1487-98 (ibid. II, 311). Sir Thomas Prat was presented tc the vicarage of Banff in 1497 (ibid., II, 373). David Pratt, an artist of the reign of James IV, had payments made him. George Prat was "toune serjand" of Aberdeen, 1664 (SCM., V, p. 334). Families of the name occur in Fyvie (AEI., 1, p. 509). Praitt 1538, Prat, Prath, Proat.

(French-Latin) Dweller at a Meadow [Old French prat (French pré), Latin prat-um (a meadow), whence also South. French prat, Ital. prato, Span, prado] Prat and Duprat are common French surnames.

Marquis de Prat .—Paris Directory.

Cp. Pray.

(English) a nickname from the Old English prœtt, ‘craft,’ ‘a trick.’ Thomas Prat.—Hundred Rolls

“Cunning” in Old English.

(English, Scottish) Dweller on, or near, a meadow; one who employed wiles or stratagems in fighting; a cunning, astute person.

1. A-S. praet, cunning. Prat, as a surname, is very common in H.R. 2. Perhaps a contraction of Latin pratum, meadow. See Pretty.

From the Latin Pratum, a meadow. Prat, in the Dutch, signifies proud, arrogant, cunning.

From Pratum, or Pré, near Lisieux, where Duke Richard, in 1024, gave lands to Fontanelles Abbey (Neustria Pia, 166). In Normandy Richard and Robert de Prato occur 1198, Matilda, Reginald, Roger de Prato 1180-95 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae). The latter occurs in Essex 1199 (Rotuli Curiae Regis), and Walter de P. in Hertford (Ibid.). Hervey de Prato 1200, in Normandy, was King John’s 'faithful knight’ (Hardy, Rot. Norm. i. 32), and the custody of Rouen Castle was given to his brother. Elyas de P. occurs in Suffolk in 1236 (Roberts, Excerpta),William de P. in 1259 (Hunter, Rot. Select.), from whom descended the Pratts of Riston, Norfolk, a branch of whom, settling in Devon, were ancestors of the Lord Chief Justice Pratt, and the Marquises Camden. The name was translated Mead, Meade, Mede, Meads.

Or Prat (English), Crafty, Subtle, Politic. A like name to that of a king of Norway, called Ingialldr the Cunning. This surname may also sometimes be the same as “de Praat,” q. v., but perhaps more frequently a corruption of the Latinized name de Prato,-i. e., of the Meadow, Pasture, Green, or Common,-or from the French du Prat. In the patois of Gascony and Auvergne, “prat” signifies a meadow, green field, court, or place.

From the French, Prat; from the Flemish, Praet; from the German, Pratsch; a personal name.

Pratt. —Excluding the North and East Ridings, where it has an independent but less important home, this name is most characteristic of the south - eastern quarter of England and of the counties adjoining. It is most frequent in Sussex, Suffolk, and Oxfordshire, and in the neighbouring counties, such as Cambridgeshire, Essex, etc. Prat was a very common surname in the 13th century in much the same part of England as that in which we now find it, particularly in Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, and Hunts. Praet in Anglo - Saxon signified cunning.