Origin of the Name Prescott
The
Prescott family history was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives. The name Prescott is derived from ancient English words that mean 'priests cottage'. This name is usually of English descent and is found in many ancient manuscripts in that country. Examples of such are a Robert Precott of Standish and a Thomas Precott of Burscough who were both recorded in the 'Wills at Chester', England , in the year 1596. A Heredes de Prestcote of County Oxfordshire was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls' in the year 1273.
Names were recorded in these ancient documents to make it easier for their overlords to collect taxes and to keep records of the population at any given time. When the overlords acquired land by either force or gifts from their rulers, they created charters of ownership for themselves and their vassals. It was by creating, maintaining and updating these reference books that they were able to maintain their authority and enforce laws.
In Ireland the name Prescott is found in County Meath as early as the fifteenth century but became associated with County Kilkenny in the seventeenth century. In modern times the name is most associated with the cities of Belfast and Dublin .
The Prescott coat of arms came into existence centuries ago. The process of creating coats of arms (also often called family crests) began in the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this. The new art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own coat of arms, including all Prescott descendants.