Pryor

Pryor is a surname of English origin, derived from the medieval office of a priory’s head. The form Pryor reflects a variant of the occupational name Prior, used for someone associated with a priory. The name has been borne by various notable individuals, including Richard Pryor (1937–2005), the American comedian and actor, and David Pryor (born 1934), the American politician who served as Governor of Arkansas and as a U.S. Senator.

In geography, Pryor refers to several places in the United States. Pryor, Oklahoma, is a city in Mayes County, located in the northeastern part of the state. The area is associated with Pryor Creek and regional transportation and commerce. Pryor Mountain Range is a northwestern United States mountain range spanning parts of Montana and Wyoming, and it is known for the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, one of the country’s remaining free-roaming horse populations.

As a given name, Pryor is used less commonly, but appears in personal names and in various place and organizational names that derive from the surname. The spelling Pryor is closely related to Prior and other variants, and the term commonly appears in historical and genealogical contexts.

See also: Prior, a related surname with a similar origin and meaning; other disambiguation pages for Pryor-related names and places. The name Pryor thus functions as both a family surname and a geographical identifier in different parts of the United States, with cultural associations primarily rooted in English-language and American contexts.