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The Rev. Edgar Cannon Prettyman, in his 1968 book about "The Prettyman Family in England and America," wrote the following six paragraphs:
Ferguson in his book "Teutonic Names" states the name probably is derived from "Brito" or "Le Brita": brito to break or Brita a ruler. Often the German "B" at the beginning of a name when changed to English becomes a "P." Hence, he reasoned, Prette or Preto, with the suffix -man became Preteman.
Another writer [Rev. Prettyman continues] asserts the name probably is derived from the French "Belle Hommes," meaning Pretty-man.
Perhaps the best theory and probably the true one is advanced by the late William Pretyman, who until his death, was the family historian in England. In his book "Pretyman of Bacton, Suffolk," he takes the ground that the name has no connection with the accepted meaning of the word "Pretty," but that its root is in the Latin word "Pratum," meaning meadow. In a most scholarly article of some length he gives historical data for his belief. Briefly says: "That in the earliest records the spelling of the name was Pratyman. The last member of the family who wrote his name thus was William Pratyman, of Bacton, lord of that manor, who died in 1594, since then the family have written the name "Pretyman," dropping the "a" for the "e", in accordance with the custom." Many English families made that change in honor of Queen Elizabeth. He contends that "from the earliest records to the present time in England, the name has been spelled with but one "t" and never with two, except when incorrectly written." He mentions a certain Henry Atta Mede (Meadow), who in 1272, in the body of two deeds writes his name as Henry Atta Mede, but his seal to one of the deeds bears the legend: "Sig: Henrici de Pratis," the Latinized form of his name. He gives numerous Latinized illustrations of the Latin form of family names being used in many countries.
The author of the book, "The Norman People," states that the name is from the Norman "de Pratis" which later changed to "Praty." This theory was accepted by Mr. Pretyman, the historian. In 1159 there was a William de Pratis, living in Suffolk County, and a Jordan de Pratis at an even earlier date -- the county where John Pratyman lived in 1361. In 1397 in that same county, we find Thomas Praty, Simon de Pratis and William Pratyman and his two sons, Stephen and William.
In the nearby county of Essex there was a Bishop Praty (1430-46). In 1540-48 there was a Rector by the name of Rev. William Praty, sometimes spelled "Pratye."
He proves from records that in early times in Suffolk County the suffix "man" to family names was very rare, but by 1340 family names ending thus were numerous.
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