Prichard
A Welsh patronymic surname meaning “son of Richard,” with related spellings like Pritchard and Prickard.
The #5,438 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 48,241 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Prichard is a Welsh-style surname built from ap, meaning “son of,” plus the personal name Richard. In effect, it means “son of Richard.” The root name Richard is Germanic, originally from elements meaning “power” or “rule” and “hardy, strong.”
History
The name is long established in Wales and border regions, and historical sources treat Prichard, Pritchard, Prickard, and similar forms as closely related variants. Earlier surname writers often explained these as spelling or sound changes from a Welsh patronymic form. The surname later spread beyond Wales through migration, and modern bearers are found across the English-speaking world.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
19th-century surname writers explicitly noted that some American records show the spelling Prichett, which they thought was a distinctive U.S. form.
From the historical record
“PRICHARD (Celt. + Teut.) the Welsh ^/i- Richard = Son of Richard: v. Richard [Wei. ap, son] John Ap-Richard.— Valor EccleS; temp. Hen. viii. PRICHETT I a palatal form of Priokett, q.v, 2 a weak form of Prichard, q.v.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)