9,774 Global Provost Family Members

Provost Family History

Recorded in wide range of spelling forms including Provost, Provest, Prevost, Privost (English) and the French and later 17th century Huguenot, Provis, Provist, Pruvost and Preuvost, this was originally a pre medieval status surname. It described either a civil or a military post, in effect that of the officer responsible for keeping order, and was vaguely similar to a modern police chief. The origin is French, and the introduction into England came with the various provost's in the army of William of Normandy, in his successful conquest of England in 1066.