Show ContentsPresnall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Presnall family

The surname Presnall was first found in Lancashire at Preesall, with Hackensall, a township, in the chapelry of Stalmine, parish of Lancaster, union of Garstang, hundred of Amounderness. " 'Pressonede' in the Domesday Survey was estimated at six carucates of land: the tithes were granted by Roger de Poictou to the priory of Lancaster." [1] Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Preesall, held by a steward of the King who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. Literally, the place name means "brushwood headland" from the Old Welsh word "pres" + the Old Viking word "hofuth" or the Old English word "heafod." [2] Preshaw is a locality near Upham on the slopes of the South Downs.

Early History of the Presnall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Presnall research. Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Presnall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Presnall Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Preesall, Presall, Prestall, Presow, Presawe, Prisoe, Priseye, Presoo, Presal, Pristow, Pristowe, Prestoe and many more.

Early Notables of the Presnall family

More information is included under the topic Early Presnall Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Presnall migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Presnall Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Mr. William Presnall, (Presnell, Pressnell), (b. 1765), aged 32, English farmer who was convicted in Essex, England for life for felony, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1839 [3]


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell


Houseofnames.com on Facebook