Hi Anne, You very well be correct.... I have been researching / collecting data on the Prater family for over 35 years and currently have a very large database on the family here in the USA. I also have taken those here in the USA, New Zealand and Australia back to the same family in England. My database totals 45,843 ... this includes wives, children, an some info. on allied families (but very little). The spelling variations that I have found thus far are: Prater, Prator, Pretor, Preator, Preater, Prayter, Praytor, Prayther, Praither, Prather, Prether, Prattor, Pratter and Prater-Penny. I have also seen records in England that state Prater alias Pearce or Pierce. AND I have seen Prater alias Proctor !!! ..... Very Close to your Prector! This was in Wiltshire. I am VERY interested to know about the listing in 1301 in Surrey !!!! Can you expand on that for me? Most of my family were in Wiltshire (John Prater, Esq. died 1547 Inglesham, Wilts. His tomb is located in the old 11th century St. John the Bapt. Church. He built the Chancel on the church where his tomb is located. His son, George Prater, Esq. lived at Latton, Wilts. and is buried in the 3 isle, 7th row in the floor of the church there in Latton. He died in 1564. George Prater, Esq. purchased the Delamare estates from Sir William Paulett and Georges oldest son, Richard moved into Nunney Castle, the major seat of these estates.. Richard died in 1580 and his effigy & tomb is located in All Saints Church in Nunney, Somerset. I descend from Anthony Thomas Prater, the 2nd. born son of George Prater, Esq. Anthony was excommunicated for his "extorsionate practices" and his branch of the family almost everything.... it was his grandson, Thomas Prater, that came to the American Colonies in 1622. I have found branches of the family in Cornwall, Devon, Berks, Glouc., London, Oxfords. with the spelling of Prater, Praytor, Pretor and Preator. I have found some records on others that I have not yet connected to the family. Thanks for your reply! Hope to hear from you soon. Gary Benton Prather Frisco, Texas USA / gbprather@aol.com