| ![Show Contents]() Presswood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The ancient history of the Presswood name begins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the family resided in or near the priest's wood, or in Prestwood, a place-name found in Buckinghamshire and in Sussex. The place-name and the surname are derived from the Old English words preost, which meant priest, and wudu, which meant wood or forest. The surname means "dweller by the priest's wood." Early Origins of the Presswood familyThe surname Presswood was first found in Worcestershire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Prestwood. Little is recorded of their early history before the 13th century but the senior representative of the family was Reginald Prestwood who lived about 1400. The family moved at this point south to Devon where the main stem resided. The family also gave their name to Prestwood in Shropshire and Buckinghamshire. They also branched to Staffordshire. Early History of the Presswood familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Presswood research. Another 143 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1570, 1608, 1628, 1629, 1655, 1692 and 1707 are included under the topic Early Presswood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Presswood Spelling VariationsUntil quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Presswood include Prestwood, Presswood, Prestwold, Presswold, Prestwald and many more. Early Notables of the Presswood familyAnother 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Presswood Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Presswood RankingIn the United States, the name Presswood is the 12,977th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
 Presswood migration to the United States | + |
Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Presswood or a variant listed above:
Presswood Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Roger Presswood who landed in North America in 1700
| Presswood migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Presswood Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Housley Presswood, aged 29, a watchmaker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1875
- Ellen Presswood, aged 23, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1875
- William Housley Presswood, aged 18 months, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1875
| Contemporary Notables of the name Presswood (post 1700) | + |
- Austin and Sarah Waters Presswood, American landowners and founder of Presswood, Texas, later renamed New Caney
- Tanner Presswood, American actor and production assistant
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Presswood migration to the United States 
Presswood migration to New Zealand 
