Praytor Last Name: Meaning and Heraldic Roots

Behind the Praytor surname stands Prather, an English name that clerks and families wrote in more than one way. The name is usually explained as “Prater / ap Rhydderch”.

Praytor and Prather

Praytor is listed among the recognised spellings of Prather. Spellings drifted because names were written down by ear in parish books, tax rolls and passenger lists. Related forms: Prater.

In the 2010 US Census, 727 Americans gave Praytor as their last name (rank 31,754). That is enough to place it in the top 50,000 American surnames.

Arms associated with the name

Looking for a Praytor coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours.

Want more than a summary? See the Praytor family name pack.