The Proctor surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 35,636 people carried this name — #977 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 8,280 people counted. That is up 3% from 34,682 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Proctor surname

A surname originating as an occupation.

The soil test was originally developed by Ralph R. Proctor.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Proctor» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a name of office: ‘the proctor’.

An early record he cites: Willelmus Proktour, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

His entry covers Proctor, Procktor and Procter.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 623 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 15 births for the Proctor name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 700 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Antrim.”

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 12
Leinster 3

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Proctor was found among the farmers of 11 counties.

It was most frequent in Lancashire: 40 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 250. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent. His list gives one count for the spellings Procter and Proctor.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Lancashire 40
Yorkshire, West Riding 28
Staffordshire 16
Durham 14
Gloucestershire 14
Hertfordshire 14
Worcestershire 14
Lincolnshire 12

And 3 more counties.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland’s registers today

Proctor was recorded 39 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 655th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 43. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

168 families named Proctor, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 943 people lived in those households, 5.6 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 4 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 73
North Carolina 24
New Hampshire 19
Pennsylvania 11
Virginia 11
Maine 9
South Carolina 8
Vermont 7
Maryland 4
Connecticut 1
New York 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 258 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Proctor in American newspapers,
1903–1915.

Newspaper page from The Evening Bulletin carrying the name Proctor
The Evening Bulletin 1903-12-22
Newspaper page from The Chickasha Daily Express carrying the name Proctor
The Chickasha Daily Express 1908-07-23
Newspaper page from Maryland Independent carrying the name Proctor
Maryland Independent 1915-12-24

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 436,528 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Proctor in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

58,482 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Proctor. The most, 8,093, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Tasmania, at 1.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 20,156
Victoria 10,430
Queensland 9,623
South Australia 9,064
Tasmania 5,169
Western Australia 3,821
ACT (Canberra) 157
Northern Territory 17

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Proctor.

Who carried it

People named Proctor,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Sir William Beauchamp-Proctor, 1st Baronet
    Sir William Beauchamp-Proctor, 1st Baronet 1722–1773 · politician
  • Catherine Howard, Countess of Effingham
    Catherine Howard, Countess of Effingham 1746–1791
  • Joseph Proctor
    Joseph Proctor 1777–1845 · scientist
  • Benjamin Proctor
    Benjamin Proctor 1811–1886 · politician
  • Joseph Proctor
    Joseph Proctor 1816–1897 · actor

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 272 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Proctor,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,916 records

2,916 records of the Proctor name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,228
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 508
  • Other U.S. records 1,180
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Calvin E. Proctor

    Born 1931; from San Diego County, California. U.S. Army, light weapons infantryman; killed in action 1951 in South Korea. Buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Cameron P. Proctor

    Born 1921 in Michigan. Enlisted 1941 at Detroit; office clerk from Missaukee County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1942, buried at Bloomfield Twp Cemetery, Manton, Michigan.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Margaret Proctor

    Arrived at New York in 1862 aboard the Emerald Isle from Liverpool, aged 19; servant. From Antrim, Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 2,916 records for Proctor in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,421 records

1,421 records of the Proctor name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 714
  • Tasmanian Names Index 294
  • Other Australian records 413
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Samuel Proctor

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the John Barry, sailing from London in 1834. Native of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1843. Married 1844 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 28.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Kate Proctor

    Died 1886 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 30. Will registered in Tasmania in 1886.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Micho Proctor

    Arrived in Victoria in 1858 aboard the Macaulay, aged 46; Irish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,421 records for Proctor in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada406 records

406 records of the Proctor name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 265
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 37
  • Other Canadian records 104
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Thos Proctor

    Came to Ontario in 1873 aboard the Peruvian, landing at Quebec, bound for London, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Alice Maud Proctor

    Buried in 1979 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 90.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record William Proctor

    Died 1913 in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 406 records for Proctor in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom109 records

109 records of the Proctor name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 71
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 22
  • Other British records 16
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Alexander Proctor

    Born 1897 at Clachbrack; agricultural worker. Died 1917. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917 (Durham Light Infantry).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain); National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Robert Proctor

    Born 1895 at Drainie; lorryman. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917 (Western Ontario Regiment).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain); National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Andrew Lamond Proctor

    Died 2000, aged 84; buried at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 109 records for Proctor in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands62 records

62 records of the Proctor name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 36
  • Dutch population registers 25
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Edward Proctor

    Married in 1864 in Leeuwarden; "koopmansbediende". Died 1873 in Leeuwarden, aged 37.

    Open Archives, AlleFriezen (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Francis Fourney Proctor

    Married in 1905 in Amsterdam; "vlashandelaar". Died 1954 in Amersfoort, aged 76.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Mariane Francis Proctor

    Born 1840 in Haarlem. Married in 1860 in 's-Gravenhage.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 62 records for Proctor in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

New Zealand14 records

14 records of the Proctor name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 11
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Charlotte Miriam Proctor

    Died 1934, aged 53; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Adeline Jessie Proctor

    Died 1996, aged 73; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 14 records for Proctor in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France1 record

1 record of the Proctor name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Michael Proctor

    Born 1965 in Australia; died 1998 in Esquerdes (Pas-de-Calais).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Belgium1 record

1 record of the Proctor name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Bertha Proctor

    Married in 1911 in Gent.

    Open Archives, Archief Gent (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Proctor.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Proctor is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Proctor volume
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