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There are approximately 1,842 people named Pretty in the UK. That makes it the 4,820th most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 29 are named Pretty.

Region of origin

British Isles

Country of origin

England

Language of origin

English

Religion of origin

Christian

Classification

English
Nickname

Related and similar surnames

Prittie
Pratti
Pratt
Praet
Pratte
Prati
Prattis
Prate
Pratts
Prat
Pratto
Pratty
Prattye
Pratey
Praty
Prattey
Pratye
Praett
Peretty
Praette
Preatt
Prattie
Pratie
Perretty
Prayett
Preatte
Pertty
Prattt
Praete
Praitt
Preat

The Pretty surname in historical dictionaries

Patronymica Britannica (1860)

PRETTY. The earliest mention of this name is in the year 1192, wheu Engevan de Prretis attests the grant of the chapel of Hope-cum-Tideswell, by John, Earl of Moreton, to the cathedral of Lichfield. Its subsequent forms have corresponded with the changes of spelling in the adjective, thus : Praty, Pretie, Prettie, Pretty. In the XV. cent, the first of these was in use, and so Leland, born in that century, writes the adjective ; e. g. " a praty town." The name, however, has nothing to do with prettiness, but is derived from the Lat. 2)ratum, a meadow. The Prettys of Scotland and Ireland are of English origin. The name is also found in Italy and in Spain. In the latter country, the family bear for arms, " a gi'een meadow, floM'ered proper." Inf. Edw. Pretty, Esq., F.S.A.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.

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