Surname Pressly - Meaning and Origin
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Pressly: What does the surname Pressly mean?
The surname Pressly is of Scottish origin and it is a geographical name from the region of Persie in Perthshire, Scotland. The name means "priest's meadow" in Old English, derived from the elements "preost" meaning "priest" and "leah" meaning "meadow". In some cases, the name might also have been a nickname or an occupational name for someone who worked in a press house or printing press. Like many surnames, it went through variations in spelling over the years, including Pressley, Pressly, Prysley, and others. People with this surname migrated to various countries over centuries including the United States, Canada, and Australia, among others, expanding the name's presence worldwide.
Order DNA origin analysisPressly: Where does the name Pressly come from?
The last name Pressly is most commonly seen today in the United States. According to the 1990 US Census, the surname can be found primarily in the southern United States, particularly in the states of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
Pressly is likely an Americanized spelling of a British patronymic surname that originated with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The family itself may have derived from an Old English personal name that was composed of the elements “press” meaning first-born and “leah” meaning wood or clearing.
The current incidence of the pressly surname has its roots in the North American and Caribbean slave trade. African American individuals bearing the surname Pressly date as early as the mid-1700s which would predate their first appearance in the US Census. The descendants of these individuals are the ones primarily responsible for the surname’s current widespread presence throughout the southern United States.
Outside of the US, Pressly is also found in the United Kingdom and the Philippine Islands but is far less common than in the US. Indeed, while the 1990 US Census shows just over 6,000 individuals with the surname Pressly, the same data for the UK shows only 78 individuals with the last name.
Variations of the surname Pressly
The surname Pressly is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name ‘Mac Phaisghigh’, which translates to mean ‘Son of Passy’. Other variants of the name Pressly include Presley, Presly and Preslee.
The surname Pressly is also found in other countries spelled in different ways. Some of the further variations include Presla (Czech), Presley (English), Presly (English), Presla (German), Pressley (Irish), Pressly (Scottish) and Preslay (French).
Presley is the more common spelling of the surname Pressly, and is a patronymic name composed of the Gaelic prefix “Mac”, combined with the personal name “Phaisghigh”. Presley or Presly are typically of English and Scottish origin, whereas Pressley is mostly of Irish origin.
The most common name to derive from Pressly is Presley, meaning “Son of Passy”, which can also be spelled as “Presly” or “Presla”. Other surnames related to Pressly are Preddy, Preshaw, Prisley and Pressly.
The surname Pressly is most commonly found in North America, specifically in the United States and Canada. The name was borne by an Irish immigrant to America, William Presly, who arrived in Pennsylvania in the 19th century. Since then, many Presslys have spread throughout the country, and the surname is now relatively commonplace in the United States.
Overall, the surname Pressly has a number of variant spellings and related surnames including Presley, Presly, Presla, Pressley, Preddy, Preshaw, Prisley and Pressly. The name is most commonly found in North America, and has an Irish and Scottish origin meaning “Son of Passy”.
Famous people with the name Pressly
- Jaime Pressly: American actress who rose to fame after appearing in the film “Not Another Teen Movie” and the TV series “My Name is Earl”.
- Bo Pressly: American actor best known for small roles in hit TV series such as “The Office”, “True Blood” and “Scandal”.
- Amy Pressly: Jamaican beauty queen and model who represented Jamaica at Miss World 2011.
- Carl Pressly: British actor who has appeared in a number of films and television shows including “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1” and “Game of Thrones”.
- Janice Pressly: American actress best known for her work on “The Young and the Restless” and “Melrose Place”.
- Matt Pressly: American movie producer and director who has worked on projects such as “Grindhouse”, “American Ultra” and “Poltergeist”.
- Rachael Pressly: Canadian actress who is best known for her roles in the films “Carmilla”, “A Small Town Legacy” and “Punch”.
- Beverly Pressly: American radio personality who hosted a nationally syndicated show for over 20 years.
- Kris Pressly: Amateur golfer who competed on the Celebrity and Mackenzie Tour in Canada.
- Don Pressly: American stunt double who has worked on hit films such as “The Avengers”, “Iron Man 3” and “The Wolf of Wall Street”.