Recorded as Proud, Proude, Prout, and the rare Proudlar, Proudler, and Proudlor, this is an English medieval surname, but one also recorded in Scotland. It originated either as a nickname for a proud or haughty person, or as Proudler, somebody who took pride in his work or family. The derivation is from the pre 7th century word "prut or prud", and it is said that as Prud it may have existed as a personal name in ancient times. As Proud the surname is said to be much associated with the county of Northumberland, although as Prout, it is as far away in the other direction as it could be, being associated with the county of Cornwall. Proudler is in the middle being associated with the county of Shropshire. Early examples of recordings include Orgar le Prude in the Calendar of Letter Books of the City of London in 1125, Richard Prude of Shropshire n the records of the Knights Templar (Crusaders) in 1185, and William Prute in the Pipe Rolls of Devonshire in the year 1207. The lands of John Prowd in Clackmannane, Scotland are mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1537, whilst on May 21st 1629 Richard Prowdler or Proudler was a christening witness at Newport in Shropshire. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Toui Prude. This was dated 1033, in the Old English Bynames list, during the reign of King Canute of England, 1016 - 1035. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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