Pruett
A spelling variant of Prewett, a surname ultimately tied to an old French word meaning brave or valiant.
The #2,644 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 22,672 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Pruett is generally treated as a variant spelling of Prewett. The name is linked to an old French adjective used in Middle English with the sense of “brave,” “valiant,” or “doughty.” In surname form, it likely began as a nickname for someone thought to be bold or spirited. The final -ett ending is a diminutive or softened form seen in several surnames.
History
Historical spelling in English records varies widely, and Pruett appears beside forms such as Prew, Prue, and Prewett. The name is especially associated with English usage before becoming established in later British and American records. Modern Pruett is now a fairly well-known American surname, while older scholarship often grouped it with the Prewett family of forms.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname dictionaries connected this family of names to a word meaning “doughty,” so the name originally had a compliment built into it.
From the historical record
“Geoffrey Prifdhomme. — Hund. Rolls. PRUE, V. Prew. PRUETT, V. Prewett. PRUST, V. Prost. PRYCE, V. Price. PRYDE, V. Pride. PRYER 1 , PRYOR J V. Prior.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)