4,343 Global Press Family Members

Press Family History

This ancient surname belongs to that sizeable group of early European surnames gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. These nicknames were originally given with reference to a variety of personal characteristics, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, mental and moral characteristics, and to habits of dress and behaviour. The derivation, in this instance, is from the Middle English "pr(i)est", minister of the Church (Olde English pre 7th Century "preost", from the Latin "presbyter", Greek "presbyteros", elder, counsellor), used to denote a non-cleric thought to resemble a priest, or perhaps one who behaved in a pious manner.