Show ContentsPresswude History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Presswude

What does the name Presswude mean?

The ancestors of the name Presswude date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Presswude family 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 Presswude family

The surname Presswude 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 Presswude family

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

Presswude Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Presswude are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Presswude include: Prestwood, Presswood, Prestwold, Presswold, Prestwald and many more.

Early Notables of the Presswude family

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

Migration of the Presswude family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Presswude or a variant listed above: 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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