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.