The Prosser surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 8,244 people carried this name — #4,312 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 35,800 people counted. That is up 5% from 7,880 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Prosser surname

A surname from Welsh [in turn originating as a patronymic].

Anglicised from Welsh ap + Rhosier, "son of Roger".

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

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Prosser was found among the farmers of 4 counties.

It was most frequent in Herefordshire: 44 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 227. 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.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Herefordshire 44
Monmouthshire 42
South Wales 22
Gloucestershire 14

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 the first U.S. census, 1790

21 families named Prosser, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 114 people lived in those households, 5.4 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

New York 8
Virginia 5
Pennsylvania 3
Maryland 2
South Carolina 2
Rhode Island 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

Prosser in American newspapers,
1890–1910.

Newspaper page from The Enterprise carrying the name Prosser
The Enterprise 1890-03-19
Newspaper page from The County Record carrying the name Prosser
The County Record 1907-05-30
Newspaper page from The Marion Daily Mirror carrying the name Prosser
The Marion Daily Mirror 1910-06-04

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 62,796 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Prosser in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

29,610 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Prosser. The most, 5,648, date from the 1920s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Western Australia, at 3.8 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Western Australia 9,985
South Australia 6,572
New South Wales 5,136
Victoria 4,567
Queensland 1,715
Tasmania 1,426
ACT (Canberra) 161
Northern Territory 9

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

Who carried it

People named Prosser,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Richard Prosser
    Richard Prosser 1748–1839
  • William Farrand Prosser
    William Farrand Prosser 1834–1911 · politician
  • Anna Weed Prosser
    Anna Weed Prosser 1846–1902
  • Halley H. Prosser
    Halley H. Prosser 1870–1921 · politician
  • Inez Beverly Prosser
    Inez Beverly Prosser 1895–1934 · psychologist

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 110 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Prosser,
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 States936 records

936 records of the Prosser name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 291
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 169
  • Other U.S. records 476
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Walter R. Prosser

    Born 1921 in New York. Enlisted 1942 at Hanover, New Hampshire; bakery worker from Kings County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1998, buried at North Guilford Cemetery, Connecticut.

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

    Arrived at New York in 1887 aboard the Noordland from Antwerp, aged 15; laborer. From Leipzig, Germany; bound for Buffalo.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Irvin Willis Prosser

    Born 1946; from Sauquoit, New York. U.S. Army, infantry unit commander; killed in action 1969 in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 936 records for Prosser in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · 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). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia781 records

781 records of the Prosser name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 341
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 162
  • Other Australian records 278
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Martha Frances Prosser

    Died 1929 in Launceston, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1929.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Thomas Baskerville Prosser

    Born 1830 in Launceston, Tasmania. Married 1850 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 19.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. 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 Thomas Prosser

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Duke of Portland, arriving 1807; ticket of leave 1814. Native of Brocknock.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 781 records for Prosser 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) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Canada138 records

138 records of the Prosser name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 90
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 14
  • Other Canadian records 34
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Chas Prosser

    Came to Ontario in 1874 aboard the Prussian, bound for Thamesville, Ontario; Scotch.

    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 Albert Edward Prosser

    Buried in 1970 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 50.

    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 Adelbert Jenkins Prosser

    Died 1951 in Lequille, Annapolis, Nova Scotia.

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

Showing 3 of 138 records for Prosser in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · 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 Kingdom37 records

37 records of the Prosser name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 23
  • Welsh wills index cards 6
  • Other British records 8
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Frank Oldham Prosser

    Buried in 1936 at Callander Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 51.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Samuel Prosser

    Will proved in 1924; of Llanelly.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record John Prosser

    Born 1889. Died 1918. Named in the University of Edinburgh roll of honour, 1914-1919.

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)

Showing 3 of 37 records for Prosser in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand20 records

20 records of the Prosser name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 14
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 6
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Florence Ethel Prosser

    Died 1950, aged 70; buried at Ruru Lawn, 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 Stanley M. Prosser

    Died 2001, aged 80; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Isabella Prosser

    Died 1929, aged 87; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 20 records for Prosser 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).

France7 records

7 records of the Prosser 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 Renee Prosser

    Born 1921 in Nordt Klammersmith - Londres (Angleterre); died 2000 in Amiens (Somme).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Mariano Prosser

    Born 1950 in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne; died 1996 in Chambéry (Savoie).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Germaine Henriette Marthe Prosser

    Born 1907 in Paris; died 1974 in Créteil (Val-de-Marne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 7 records for Prosser in France.

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).

Germany6 records

6 records of the Prosser name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 5
  • German emigration and citizenship files 1
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Heinrich Prösser

    From Reichenbach, Usingen. Reported dead in the Prussian casualty list of 2 August 1915 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 64).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Georg Proßer

    Left Atzesberg for North America in 1857.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Staatsarchiv Landshut (CC0)

Showing 2 of 6 records for Prosser in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0) · Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0).

Netherlands5 records

5 records of the Prosser name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 3
  • Dutch population registers 2
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Thomas Prosser

    Married in 1644 in Rotterdam; born in England.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Hermina Prosser

    In the population register of Middelburg; born 1904.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Prosser 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); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Prosser.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Prosser 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.

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