ETHNICITY AND LAST NAME QUESTION!!!!! PLEASE HELP!!

Question

If someone was to have the last name of Pruitt, would that mean they are of French background. I have read that Pruitt is French, so would I be correct in assuming that someone with the last name of Pruitt would be French? Thanks.

Answer 1

the whole premise is faulty.

Your last name does not guarantee anything related to your background. Surname etymology (origin) is where a name supposedly comes from, but that is open to many different names which come from more than one place.  Keep in mind also.. that in doing research, many persons run into adoptions, thus the name they carry is not biological ancestry at all.

As for Grandma and her mom.. their ancestry would be whichever country they or their ancestors were born in.  I am confused as to how that connects to Pruitt? In genealogy, you would use the maiden name.

Any of your ancestors born prior to 1930 will be in the census, which you can get at ancestry.com, or someone here often will do a look up for you.  (my account is closed at the moment).  Census records show place of birth, as well as place of birth for the parents of a person.

edit

if grandma and mother were never in the US, then I apologize, that is not of use for you.

Answer 2

it depends they could be married into that last name

Answer 3

Pruitt in fact sounds like a very English name to me. In any case it is common enough in the U.S., so your assumption is likely to be dead wrong.

Answer 4

Ancestry.com notes that the Pruitt surname could be either French or English.  It comes from a pet form of the Old French word "proux", meaning valiant, brave, or wise.

Of course, your ethnicity would be composed of the sum total of all your ancestors extending back into history.  Remember, too, that the nationality of certain regions within both France and Germany has often been disputed (as recently as 63 years ago). After all,  Karl der Grosse, or Charlemagne, as King of the Franks, could in retrospect claim to be both German and French.  Nationality among Europeans has long been amazingly fluid.

Answer 5

My Pruitt line is Welsh.

And, Wendy is right.

Answer 6

Anything is possible, how much research have you done on that side of your family? How far back did does the name first come up, is it your last name? I have German and French in my family as well and I'm American. My great grandfather was a stowaway from Germany, last name Kipp. Minder and Broussard are my French relatives.

This link will give you some info. on your surname there, hope it works. http://www.ancestry.com/facts/Pruitt-pla...

Did some searching and found this site on the net, some general info., it's about all I can do. http://pruett.ws/

I have the same problem except I find it hard to trace my family once outside the US. It gets harder the further back you go but also more interesting. Wishing your luck on you search.

Answer 7

I have a french poodle named fi fi, whenever she goes no. 1, I call it oui oui (wee wee)