Prescott

Prescott is a toponym and surname of English origin. The place name is derived from Old English elements meaning “priest’s cottage,” and it originated as a habitational name from Prescott in Lancashire and other similarly named places. Over time the surname spread to the Americas and other regions, where it has been adopted by various communities as a place name.

As a geographic name, Prescott identifies several communities in North America. The best known is Prescott, Arizona, a city in central Arizona that grew from frontier roots into a regional center for government, tourism, and outdoor recreation. It has historic courthouses and a downtown district known for its preservation of 19th‑century architecture, and serves as a gateway to nearby natural areas such as the Prescott National Forest and the Granite Dells.

Other towns bearing the name include Prescott, Ontario, in southeastern Ontario on the Saint Lawrence River, and Prescott, Wisconsin, a village in Pierce County along the St. Croix River near the Minnesota border. These communities are smaller and commonly centered on local services, agriculture, and cross‑border or regional trade.

The name Prescott also appears in surnames and in the names of institutions and districts named after people bearing the surname. In common usage, Prescott commonly refers to places in North America, but it remains a surname with English origins and a legacy in various communities worldwide.