Surname Prewit - Meaning and Origin

Prewit: What does the surname Prewit mean?

The last name Prewit is of English origin and is believed to refer to a person's residence near an area of open land called a "prewitt," or "pree wit" meaning "priest's clearing." This name likely derives from an Old English compound of the priest's title, preost, and the Old English word witt. The original settlers bearing this name likely resided in a rural area with open space in the form of a clearing.

Although the origin of this last name is not totally clear, there are a few suspect possibilities. It could be a form of the Middle English word perewit, which referred to a small bird, such as a large titmouse or small thrush. In this case, the name was likely given to an individual who was small in stature or had a birdlike quality. Another possibility is that it is derived from Old English preowd, meaning “pride or arrogance.” If this is the case, the name could have been given to a person who displayed a proud personality. Lastly, it could be derived from the Old English preowst, meaning “servant” or “priest.” The original name holder could have been the servant of a priest, or a person of high religious standing in the local community.

Regardless of the exact origin, the last name Prewit is distinct and unique, and the original name holder was likely a person of noble character, skilled stature, and esteemed standing in the local community.

Prewit: Where does the name Prewit come from?

The last name Prewit is most commonly found in the United States today, with the majority of individuals bearing this name living in Southern regions of the country, particularly Texas and Louisiana. The origin of the Prewit surname is widely thought to be of German or Dutch origin.

The Prewit family name is particularly well-represented in America, due to the many families of this name who immigrated in the late-17th and early-18th centuries. These immigrants were composed mainly of individuals from Germany and the Netherlands, with some settlers from England and Scotland, as well. Later in the 19th century, more Prewit individuals arrived from Austria, Hungary, and Norway.

Today, the Prewit name is well-spread throughout the states of Texas and Louisiana. There are also well-documented individuals of the Prewit family in the states of Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Indiana, and Illinois. The current estimated population of individuals with this last name in the country is approximately 9000, accounting for 0.003% of the total population.

Overall, the name Prewit is widely spread throughout the US today, primarily in states of the Southern region of the country, alluding to the root origins of this last name in Europe.

Variations of the surname Prewit

The surname Prewit has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Prewett, Prat, Pratte, Praat, Prat, Pritt, Prit, Pryt, Pritts, Prette, Prout, and Prewell.

The name Prewit is believed to have originated from the prehistoric Anglo-Saxon culture of England, and it is likely that the people responsible for the creation of this surname were of cattle herders.

Prewitt is a variant of the surname originating in England, as well as Scotland. Its root form is either Prat or Pratte which mean 'cattle.' There is a place in Breconshire, Wales called Prat which could be the source of the name as well. The name may have also been derived from an Old English personal name, possibly Prat or Pratte, which may have come from the Old English prat, meaning ‘hoof’ or ‘claw’.

The Prewett surname is thought to be a variant of Prewit, and it could have originated from the town of Prat, a small village in the Brecknock district of Wales.

Pryt is also a variant of the surname, and it is an Old English name derived from prætt, which means ‘hoof’. It may have been an occupational name for a man who took care of horses’ hooves or ‘pryt’.

Pritts is another variant of Prewit and it may be of Anglo-Saxon origin and could have been derived from the Old English pritt, meaning ‘auger, drill’, and indicating an original bearer with this skill.

Prette is another form of the name Prewit and is believed to be derived from the Old English prat, meaning ‘hoof’ or ‘claw’, and possibly from an Old English personal name, Ælfprætta.

The Prout surname is likely derived from Prat or Pratte, and it is thought to be a nickname for a person with beautiful hands or feet. Prout is also a variant of Prowe and Prater.

Finally, the surname Prewell is thought to have been derived from an Old English name Præswell, which is derived from the words præs meaning ‘thorn’ and welle meaning ‘spring’. This could indicate an early reference to a place name associated with the family.

Famous people with the name Prewit

• Ida Prewitt: a former American School Teacher, producer, and director.
• Edward Prewitt: an American actor who has starred in a number of films, including roles in The Preacher's Wife, The Wood, Antwone Fisher, and Hall Pass.
• Robert Prewitt: an Emmy Award-winning American film director, producer, and cinematographer known for his work on Miami Vice,`Doogie Howser, M.D.', and Size Matters.
• Rachael Prewitt: an English actress who starred in the television series' Peep Show and Shameless.
• Sophia Prewitt: a former American novelist and acclaimed author of the novels Cha Cha Cha and Room for the Dead.
• Richard Prewitt: an American graphic designer and entrepreneur, best known for founding the studio Vinyl Eventworks.
• Jesse Prewitt: an American singer-songwriter and actor known for his work in the television series' Nashville and Supernatural.
• Ken Prewitt: a former American television writer, producer, and director who contributed to shows like The Simpsons, Family Ties, and Cheers.
• Matthew Prewitt: an American racing driver who competed in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series.
• Anna Prewitt: a British theatre director, playwright, and artistic administrator, known for her work on the stage productions of Yellow, Server, and The Transformers.

Other surnames

PrewiettPrewitt