The prothonotary is the chief court clerk in certain courts of law in certain Anglo-American jurisdictions, including the American states of Pennsylvania and Delaware, the Federal Court of Canada, and the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island and the Supreme Courts of the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria.

President Harry S. Truman, during a campaign stop in Pittsburgh in 1948, said he had long thought that "prothonotary" was the most impressive-sounding political title he knew of.

Catholic Church usage

In the Roman Catholic Church, it is the title of certain prelates called protonotaries apostolic (Latin protonotarii apostolicii). In the Middle Ages the protonotaries were very high papal officials, and were often raised directly from this office to the cardinalate. Originally numbering seven, Pope Sixtus V (1585-90) increased their number to twelve. Their importance gradually diminished,

Supernumerary protonotaries are priests of the pontifical household (monsignors) of the highest degree. The title is awarded to priests by the pope, however the title is purely honorary and is not attached to any duties in the Curia. Priests so honored are addressed, "monsignor," may put the latters, "P.A." after their names, and have certain minor ceremonial privileges.

Etymology

The title is derived from a Late Classical imperial tittle formed from the Greek πρῶτος + The Latin notorarius and awarded to certain high-ranking notaries.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Catholic Encyclopedia.