Show ContentsPresswould History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Presswould

What does the name Presswould mean?

The origins of the Presswould name come from when the Anglo-Saxon tribes ruled over Britain. The name Presswould was originally derived from a family having lived 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 Presswould family

The surname Presswould 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 Presswould family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Presswould 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 Presswould History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Presswould Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Presswould include Prestwood, Presswood, Prestwold, Presswold, Prestwald and many more.

Early Notables of the Presswould family

Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Presswould Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Presswould family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Roger Presswood who landed in North America in 1700; Joan Prestwood, who settled in Virginia in 1666; and Richard Prestwood, who was on record in Baltimore in 1749..



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